- Former Champions to Line Up Against Top US PGA Stars -
Doha (QATAR): Two-time winner and course record holder Adam Scott will make his only Middle East appearance on the famed ‘desert swing’ when he tees off the defence of his title at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy at Doha Golf Club from January 22-25.
To be staged for the twelfth time, the $2.5 million tournament is one of three being staged back-to-back in the Gulf region. However, as an indication of the strength and popularity of the tournament, Scott has chosen to make his sole appearance in the Gulf in Doha as he attempts to win his third Masters title in as many starts.
“Naturally, we are both delighted and honoured that our two-time champion Adam Scott will be back to defend the title he won in such style one year ago,” said Qatar Golf Association (QGA) President Hassan Al Nuami
“It is a positive sign as to the standing of the tournament that he will be coming to the Middle East only to play here in Doha. We are all looking forward to welcoming him back as he looks for a hat-trick of Masters crowns and we are proud he has chosen Doha as his only Gulf tournament of 2009.”
While Scott has won on both his trips to Doha Golf Club in 2002 and 2008 and will be aiming for a unique hat-trick of titles, he will face a formidable 120-player line up in an event staged by the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercialbank.
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Among the sought-after names guaranteed exclusively to the tournament are US PGA stars Boo Weekley and Brandt Snedeker who will both be aiming to be the first American winner of the prestigious trophy.
While Weekley has won two US PGA Tour titles and was a star player in the US Ryder Cup team at Valhalla last year, Snedeker came close to winning last year’s Masters at Augusta before finishing in third place and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007.
“I think we can safely say we have the strongest field of any of the events in the ‘desert swing’ of tournaments,” said Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens, who also announced that former champions Henrik Stenson of Sweden and South African Retief Goosen will be in the line-up of 120 when play gets underway on January 22.
“It again proves what we say year after year – this is an event that will continue to grow in strength thanks to a three-way partnership between the Qatar Golf Association, the Qatar Olympic Committee and Commercialbank.”
It is an indication of the growth of the tournament that in-demand professionals such as Scott, Snedeker and Weekley have opted to play Doha over the two European Tour events staged either side of the event week in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Much like the city that hosts it, the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy has dramatically grown since its inception in 1998 to become one of the key dates on the international calendar.
Stevens added: “Last year, with the support of the Qatar Golf Association and the Qatar Olympic Committee, we staged a massively successful tournament in a wonderful venue with superb on-course branding, a wealth of international and local corporate names, unrivalled infrastructure and an all-star cast of players that helped propel the event to a height few could have imagined just a few years ago.
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“Every year, we aim to raise the bar even further and in 2008 the tournament was deeply honoured and privileged to receive visits from both His Highness The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamed bin Khalifa Al Thani, and his wife Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned. Their patronage was a great boost for all of us and we again thank them for their support.”
The 2009 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy week will get underway with the Rolex Pro-Am on January 21, before 120 golfers take to the course for the tournament itself from January 22-25.
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