Golfers are relishing their return to action as the Commerical Bank Qatar Masters 2021 gets under way today at the picturesque Education City Golf Club (ECGC).
Spain’s Jorge Campillo is defending his title which he won last year at the same venue. The $1.5m tournament is the last leg of the Desert Swing following the cancellation of Oman Open.
With the popular tournament in its 24th year, this edition is being held facing the challenge of COVID-19 but the golfers have shown their confidence in Qatar’s organisation as they look forward to exciting four days of action.
Campillo, who defeated Scotland’s David Drysdale to lift his maiden ‘Mother of Pearl Trophy’, is hoping to retain the title.
“It’s different (being defending champion), I’ve never been in this position before because the other tournament I won (Trophée Hassan II) I couldn’t defend it,” he said referring to the cancellation of the tournament.
Golfers and officials posing for photographs after the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Pro-Am events at the Education City Golf Club (ECGC) yesterday. Over 160 players took part in the Pro-Am events, won by the Commercial Bank Qatar (CBQ) and ECGC. CBQ team comprised of John Catlin (Pro), Euan Harvey, Benjamin Coleman and Ali Bashir while Oliver Fisher (Pro), Martin Harvey, Abul Rashid Mordiffi and Mohamed Al Mansour formed Team ECGC. Pictures: Ebrahim Kutty
“It’s new for me. I have had most of the attention this week, but I’m fine with it. It’s nice to be the defending champion,” the Spaniard told europeantour.com yesterday.
The 34-year-old is expected to face challenge from a competitive field, which also includes Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and another Ryder Cup player Andy Sullivan.
Four former champions including Spaniard Alvaro Quiros (2009), Englishmen Chris Wood (2013) and Eddie Pepperell (2018) besides South African Justin Harding (2019) will also tee off today.
Pepperell, who clinched the title at the Doha Golf Club, said he enjoyed playing at the ECGC last year.
“It’s nice to get away from home for a week to Qatar. I am craving for some golf back as I look forward to summer,” the 30-year-old said.
Golfers and officials posing for photographs after the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Pro-Am events at the Education City Golf Club (ECGC) yesterday. Over 160 players took part in the Pro-Am events, won by the Commercial Bank Qatar (CBQ) and ECGC. CBQ team comprised of John Catlin (Pro), Euan Harvey, Benjamin Coleman and Ali Bashir while Oliver Fisher (Pro), Martin Harvey, Abul Rashid Mordiffi and Mohamed Al Mansour formed Team ECGC. Pictures: Ebrahim Kutty
“I really enjoyed this course last year, I qualified here and had an eventful opening round. The course is great, the conditions are great, the hotel is great so we are looking forward to a nice week of golf,” he added.
Denmark’s rising star Rasmus Hojgaard is also hoping to maintain his form in Qatar after an impressive run in the Desert Swing, that saw the 19-year-old securing sixth position at the Saudi Arabia event.
“It feels good to be back. I enjoyed playing here last year. I don’t feel my game is good at the moment. It’s a big event you want to play well and I am actually focusing on producing good golf shots.
“I obviously want to win as much as possible. I want to keep improving my game,” said Hojgaard.
All the golfers and officials involved in the tournament will have to be in bio-secure zones throughout the event, but for top-ranked Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma, the precautionary measures are not a worry.
“I am pretty used to it. It started in August last year and I played 12 to 15 events in bubble,” the 24-year-old said yesterday.
Speaking about his performance, he said: “I think my game is heading in the right direction. Recently, I played three events two were great one was decent. I went back home and worked with my coaches. Everything looks solid and it’s just about going there and applying myself tomorrow,” he added.
Recent Qatar Open Amateur Championship winner Ali Al Shahrani is leading the Qatari charge with wild card entrants Jaham Jassim and Saleh Al Kaabi also representing the home country.
Today, the golfers are likey to face a challenge of tough conditions with winds expected to crank up at the weekend.
