Alkass Digital
The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters returns to its traditional date as the European Tour’s annual golf tournament will be staged at the Doha Golf Club (DGC) from tomorrow till Sunday.
The event will serve as the fifth and final stop if the Middle Eastern swing. The tournament, won towards the end of last season by Sami Valimaki as he went on to earn a PGA Tour card, has a prize fund of $2.5mn, of which $425,000 will go to the winner.
Now back to its accustomed slot in the early weeks of the year, the event – an ever-present on the calendar since its inception in 1998 – promises to bring the curtain down on a dramatic stretch in this part of the world.
The field is headlined by the presence of four players from the top ten on the Race to Dubai Rankings. The in-form South African Zander Lombard is joined by compatriot and last week’s winner in Bahrain Dylan Frittelli, Rikuya Hoshino and Rasmus Hojgaard who have both enjoyed runner-up finishes so far this season.
While Finland’s Valimaki is not back to defend his title this week as he plies his trade at PGA Tour, there are a host of past champions in action this week at Doha Golf Club. In total there are no fewer than eight players who have held aloft the Mother of Pearl Trophy teeing it up.
Ewen Ferguson and Antoine Rozner, who won the tournament across back-to-back years in 2022 and 2021 respectively, are joined by Spaniard Jorge Campillo, who has also won the event since the turn of the decade.
Before them, Eddie Pepperell and Wang Jeunghun won in 2018 and 2017 respectively, while Ryder Cup player Chris Wood was a winner in 2013 and Alvaro Quiros celebrated success in 2009. South African Darren Fichardt, back on the European Tour after progressing from the Final Stage of Qualifying School last year, is the oldest past champion having won in 2003.
At the press conference on Tuesday, Fahad Nasser al-Naimi, Secretary-General of the Qatar Golf Federation, was pleased with the strong field and said the Doha Golf Club was in perfect shape to host the event.
“We have eight past champions among a 132-player field, populated by many circuit regulars. I want to extend my gratitude to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for his continuous support to golf and the Qatar Masters. I also want to thank Commercial Bank for their sponsorship and unwavering commitment towards the tournament,” he said.
Al-Naimi said Qatar will be represented by Saleh al-Kaabi, with Ali al-Shahrani ruled out due to an injury. Saudi Arabia and Jordan will also have representation in the form of Othman al-Mulla and Shergo al-Kurdi respectively.
“The Qatar Masters is one of the most significant sporting events held in Qatar and is highly-rated by the International Federation of Golf due to the participation of prominent global stars. The Qatar Golf Association is committed to organising the event annually, given its significance in the European Tour calendar,” al-Naimi said.
Hussein al-Abdullah, EGM, Marketing and Alternative Assets at Commercial Bank, said: “Commercial Bank has created a legacy that empowers possibilities and Qatar Masters bears witness to that. As we step into our 27th year as title sponsor of this event, I can’t help but feel proud of all the milestones we have achieved. Our mission will always centre around building a promising future for Qatar.”
He continued: “For us, golf transcends its prestigious image; it serves as a networking platform for individuals sharing a common interest in discussing current events and business opportunities. Through our commitment to advancing technology, Commercial Bank is investing in AI and digital services, ushering in a new era of financial innovation. This event serves as a hub where business professionals and golf enthusiasts converge, fostering connections and conversations in an upscale environment, shedding light on the Bank’s strides in digital offerings.”
Since it was founded in 1988, the Qatar Masters has been held at Doha Golf Club on all but two occasions. While the Peter Harradine-designed layout at DGC, part of the first wave of grass golf courses to have been built in the Middle East, measures in at 7,475 yards and features a double green on the par five ninth and 18th holes.