Strongest Field Outside of Open Championship and BMW PGA On European Tour

The 2009 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, which got underway at Doha Golf Club on Thursday (Jan 22), boasted the strongest field in the history of golf in the Middle East, as determined by the World Ranking Field Rating.

Organised by the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercialbank, the US$ 2.5 million tournament also boasted the strongest field of any European Tour event outside of the Open Championship and BMW PGA since records began.

It marked a remarkable rise to prominence by an event that launched its twelfth edition with eighteen of the world’s top 50 players in the 120-man field.

With so many big name players competing, the event offers players a higher number of world ranking points than any golf event ever staged in the Middle East – and firmly places the Doha event at the forefront of golf in the region.

Sergio Garcia, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Boo Weekley, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey and Justin Rose were all in the hunt making the line-up for the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, read like a Who’s Who of the world game -just about all the big guns were there.

World no.2 Sergio Garcia returned to Doha as the highest ranked player in the field.

“I think it shows the strength in depth of the Tour and our players,” said Sergio Garcia when told of the world ranking status of the tournament. “This is a good, solid event to test us early in the season. It’s tougher to win here than in Abu Dhabi – the course is in better shape than any I’ve seen this year and has grown up over the years. It’s an event where you have to be patient and is usually windier than the others.”

Alvaro Quiros won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters on Sunday, making five birdies on the back nine to shoot a 3-under 69 and beat Louis Oosthuizen and Henrik Stenson by three strokes in the European Tour event.

After a shaky start, Alvaro righted himself on the back stretch, getting birdies on Nos. 16-17 to seal the victory.

After blazing a stunning, bogey-free 65 Saturday to take the overnight lead, Quiros reached the turn 1 over par and was soon in a three-way tie as Stenson drained an eagle putt at the 10th.

"It doesn't feel good, a three-putt at the last, but still I had to give it a go as that was my last chance to force a playoff to make birdie. But I'm still happy with the performance," said Stenson, who missed the cut in Abu Dhabi last week.