Genworth Stats Pack - Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Preview

Paul Lawrie returns to Doha Golf Club for the 14th time this week. He is the defending champion and a two time winner (1999 and 2012). The venue presents traditionally windy conditions and therefore plays perfectly into Paul’s hands. For the last two years his Genworth Statistics have been superb across the board. He has driven the ball well, ranked very high for Greens in Regulation and putted superbly.

Louis Oosthuizen has played this event seven times from 2004 through to 2011 (missing out only 2007). His best finish to date is 2nd (2009). Looking at his Genworth Statistics from his last four visits he has played solid golf without perhaps firing on all cylinders (even when finishing 2nd). In 2011 his long game was strong but his putting seemed a little off, and in both 2009 and 2010 you can see the reverse effect. Louis arrives off the back of a win at the Volvo Golf Champions. He is the tournament favourite.

Ernie Els has played the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters four times, but not since 2009. He has an excellent record over the Doha course which includes a win in 2005 and a 3rd place finish in 2007. Ernie’s Genworth Statistics from his four visits are listed below. You can see they are very strong (including leading the Greens in Regulation statistic in 2006). The course obviously suits his game.

Sergio Garcia is a regular at this event. This will be his 8th visit. He tends to put in a solid performance each year and has finished inside the top ten on four occasions. His Genworth Statistics show that he ranks consistently high for both Driving Distance and Greens in Regulation. One feels just a little spark is all that is needed to present Sergio with his first Commercial Bank Qatar Masters victory.

Off the back of last week’s 2nd place finish in Abu Dhabi, Justin Rose arrives this week as the world's highest ranking player in the field (4th). He has actually played this event four times, most recently in 2009, and for a period much earlier in his career, from 1999 to 2001. Unfortunately Justin does not possess the best record over the Doha course. He has missed the cut on all four occasions. His Genworth Statistics for the course do not represent his current stature in the game, so we will ignore them on this occasion.

Henrik Stenson must have a love hate relationship with the Doha course. It is the most bizarre record. Between the years of 2005 and 2009 his results were 2nd, win, 7th, 2nd, 2nd, yet following on from that over the period 2010 to 2012 they turned into 64th, cut, cut. Below are his Genworth Statistics from his win and 3 runner up finishes. When he plays well here he is able to rank inside the top 10 for both Greens in Regulation and Putts per GIR (a deadly combination).

Genworth Ambassador Peter Hanson has played the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters eleven times. His best finish is tied 2nd (2012). He putted exceptionally well that week in the windy conditions, ranking 4th for Putts per GIR and 8th for Putts per Round. Peter then continued to produce amazing putting performances throughout the rest of the year, and finished the season on top of the Genworth Putts per GIR ranking and in 4th position on the Genworth Putts per Round ranking.

Martin Kaymer doesn’t quite have the same record in Qatar as he does in Abu Dhabi (even though the tournaments are played back to back). From his five visits here his best finish is 9th. But it should be noted that his results have improved pretty much year on year since 2008, and looking at his Genworth Statistics, that trend seems to stem from better putting each time. We look on with interest.

Branden Grace returns to Doha Golf Club for the second time. Last year, statistically his performance was quite average. But when you factor in that he had secured back to back victories just a few weeks prior, it was of course understandable. Branden arrives following on from a 5th place finish last week in Abu Dhabi where he birdied five of the last six holes to shoot the lowest fourth round score. With Branden Grace, expect the unexpected.

Media attention continues to increase on Denmark’s rising star, Thorbjørn Olesen. The 23 year old has already won on the European Tour, and last week in Abu Dhabi he finished in 2nd position for the 5th time in his short career. Thorbjørn is yet to play his best golf over the Doha course, but that time is sure to come, maybe even this week.

Aside from a 5th place finish in 2010 where he led the Genworth Greens in Regulation statistic for that week, Paul Casey actually has a poor record in this event (missed cuts from his other four visits). Do not discount him though. He is performing consistently from week to week and it is only a matter of time until he returns to the winners circle.