The DP World Tour returns to the Middle East this week for what promises to be a fascinating 26th edition of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Here are your five things to know.
Last chance to secure Tour cards
The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club represents the final counting event in the regular season for the DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, and the last opportunity for players to earn their playing rights for the following season.
The top 116 players on the season-long standings are set to secure their cards.
Among those in need of a good week is 2017 winner Jeunghun Wang, who enters the week 123rd on rankings. The South Korean returned to the DP World Tour earlier this year after completing military service in his homeland but after a good initial run of form he has since suffered a series of missed cuts.
Marc Warren and Alfredo Garcia-Heredia enter the week just below the provisional cut off for retention of DP World Tour membership at 117th and 118th, respectively.
Dane John Axelsen, a graduate of Qualifying School last year, currently occupies the magic number of 116th, with long-time DP World Tour members Scott Jamieson and Alexander Levy among those on the outside looking in.
Ferguson defends in Doha
At last year’s edition, held in March, Ewen Ferguson claimed his maiden DP World Tour title after producing a fine finish in windy conditions to win by one shot.
The Scot went into the final round three shots adrift of 54-hole co-leaders Adrian Meronk and Matthew Jordan, but an eagle and a birdie in his last three holes saw him record a two-under-par 70 that proved enough for him to celebrate his first professional win.
Ferguson’s triumph came in just his 37th start on the DP World Tour and only his sixth appearance since securing a full card as a 2021 European Challenge Tour graduate.
It was one of two titles last season for Ferguson, who went on to seal a wire-to-wire victory at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics in Northern Ireland.
The 27-year-old is currently on track to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship next month, with two top tens in his last four starts bolstering his bid to return to Dubai for the second year running.
Players seek to book spots at Nedbank and season finale in Dubai
Following this week’s event in Qatar there is a one-week break on the schedule before the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
The penultimate event on the DP World Tour schedule will feature a 66-player field, with 7,000 Race to Dubai Ranking Points available.
Matt Wallace and Aaron Rai have both made the journey to the Middle East from playing in the ZOZO Championship on the PGA TOUR, with the pair ranked 62nd and 65th respectively.
The campaign will then reach a climax in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course, with the leading 50 available players on the season-long rankings securing their spots.
Richard Mansell, who lies 58th on the standings, is aiming to continue his recent good form and boost his return to the season finale, while Scandinavian pair Jens Dantorp and Jeff Winther occupy the two immediate spots outside the top 50.
As such, there is plenty at stake for players in Qatar as several look to prolong their campaigns.
Over the years in Qatar
The Peter Harradine-designed Doha Golf Club has hosted the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on all but two occasions since it was first held on the DP World Tour in 1998.
While the layout underwent a major renovation, including the relaying of all 18 greens, the 2020 and 2021 editions were hosted at Education City Golf Club.
Major Champions Adam Scott and Paul Lawrie along with South Africa’s Branden Grace are the only players to have won the Mother of Pearl trophy on multiple occasions.
Andrew Coltart won the inaugural edition 25 years ago in 1998, while another fellow former event winner Tony Johnstone is part of the commentary team for the World Feed this week.
Antoine Rozner and Jorge Campillo, both winners on Tour this season, along with Eddie Pepperell are among the former champions in the field, with the tournament's prize money increased from its previous sum of 2 million USD to 3.75 million USD.
Course record
In the history of Doha Golf Club, and indeed of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, no player has been able to replicate or surpass Masters Champion Scott’s final round from 2008.
The Australian began the closing day three shots off the pace in a tie for fifth, but a stunning 11 under par final round of 61 gave him his second victory in the event, following his 2002 triumph.
Only six players have gone lower than 61 in the final round to win a DP World Tour event.
All recorded rounds of 60 – Ian Woosnam at the 1990 Torras Monte Carlo Open, Jamie Spence at the 1992 European Masters, Rafa Cabrera Bello at the 2009 Austrian Golf Open and Brandon Stone at the 2018 Scottish Open.
Could we see a player join that exclusive club this week?
