- Doha European Tour Event Boasts Five of World’s Top Ten -
Doha (QATAR): World number nine Ernie Els is the latest in a long line of big names to put pen to paper and his confirm his appearance in the 2009 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy.
The winner of the tournament back in 2005, Els will return to the 7,388-yard Doha Golf Club to tee it up alongside defending champion Adam Scott, world number two Sergio Garcia and former champions Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen in a 120-man line-up boasting five of the top ten in the World Golf Rankings.
“We missed Ernie last year so it’s wonderful to have him back with us again,” said a delighted Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA). “He is one of the greatest golfing names of the past twenty years with three Majors and over 50 international titles to his name – getting him back to Doha is another major boost for the tournament and a credit to everyone involved.”
Organised by the QGA in association with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercialbank, the twelfth Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy gives Els a chance to get on the European Tour title trail after starting his 2009 campaign with back-to-back events in Hawaii where he finished tied for sixth in the Mercedes-Benz Championship before tackling the Sony Open.
“I’ve been a professional golfer for twenty years now and for me the buzz of a new season never wears off,” he said. “I’m consciously not making too many bold predictions for 2009.
“I’m coming off the back of a season where my golf was a little mixed and where I made quite a few significant changes both on and off the golf course. I feel confident, but at the same time I have the mindset where I simply want to enjoy it all, play a lot of golf, do a lot of practicing and really stay dedicated. That’s the approach.”
Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens is understandably delighted to have secured the signature of the world number nine. “Having Ernie Els in your field always gives the event an added bonus,” he said.
“Our former champions are very much part of this tournament so it is important that we have Ernie back to join us as well as other recent winners such as Adam Scott, Retief Goosen and Henrik Stenson.
“Those four names alone show how much this tournament has developed and I am sure this will again be appreciated by the spectators. Ernie is a not only a superstar golfer, he is also a wonderful person – he’s guaranteed a very warm welcome back to Doha.”
One of the most popular figures in the world game, the ‘Big Easy’ will undoubtedly be a firm fans’ favourite when he returns to Doha Golf Club from January 22-25. And the big South African is looking to recapture the form that took him to two US Open titles and one Open Championship.
“I know I have to putt better than I did for most of 2008,” he said, after ending the 2008 campaign with a tie for third place in the South African Open. “But I sorted out my alignment after a trip to Callaway’s test centre and since then I’ve been working with Bob Rotella on some new ideas. We came up with a routine which helps get me comfortable over the ball.
“Overall I’d say I’m trying to putt like I did in my 20s. It’s starting to feel pretty comfortable and I putted well in my last few tournaments of the year. If I can build on that then 2009 should be a good year for me.”
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