Justin Rose suffered a one-stroke penalty that left him three shots behind leader Ricardo Santos after the opening round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Runner-up to Jamie Donaldson in Abu Dhabi last week, Rose had to be content with a four under par 68 after he was penalised a foot from the hole on the 17th.
The world No 4 had missed his birdie attempt and was addressing the ball ready to tap in when he noticed it moved a fraction.
European Tour referee Paul Carrigill, himself a former player on the circuit, was called and with no wind to blame for the change in position he imposed the extra shot and told Rose to move the ball back before continuing.
The incident did not unsettle him as, after holing for a bogey four, the 32-year-old found the green in two at the 589-yard last and two-putted for his sixth birdie.
Santos, whose victory in Madeira last May made him the first Portuguese winner for 20 years and earned him the Rookie of the Year trophy, finished one in front of Fifer Peter Whiteford, England’s Anthony Wall and Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka.
Rose’s playing partner, Martin Kaymer, also fired a 68, while world No 5 Louis Oosthuizen finished with a double-bogey seven for a 71.
Sergio Garcia started his season with a 69 but defending champion Paul Lawrie could do no better than 72 and could well have to improve on that just to survive the halfway cut.
Lawrie was joined on 72 by fellow Scots Colin Montgomerie, David Drysdale, Stephen Gallacher and Craig Lee.
Marc Warren is well placed with a 69 but Scott Jamieson disappointed with a 74.