• Defending champion, Alvaro Quiros will try and create history by becoming the first player to hold onto the Mother of Pearl Trophy. Should he do so, it would continue his record of winning every year as a full European Tour Member, dating back to the 2007 season. This would also take Quiros to the top of the current list for European Tour Members for the most consecutive winning years, with four.

• The strength of this year’s tournament is highlighted by the fact there are five Major Champions playing and no fewer than 96 European Tour winners.

• The 2006 champion, Henrik Stenson will be seeking to continue his outstanding recent record over the Doha layout.  In 2005 he was second, winner in 2006, tied seventh in 2007, second in 2008 and tied second in 2009. For his last 20 rounds he is a total of 70 under par, with his last 16 consecutive rounds all being under par. Of the 20 rounds, 19 of them have beaten par.

• South African Charl Schwartzel, winner in his last two appearances; the Africa Open and Joburg Open, will try to make it three wins from three appearances. The last player to achieve that on The European Tour was Tiger Woods in 2006 at The Open Championship, US PGA Championship and WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

• The Commericalbank Qatar Masters  presented by Dolphin Energy holds the European Tour record for the fewest number of shots between the halfway leaders and the cut mark – just five in 2004. The 36 leaders were on 138 (-6), whilst the cut fell at 143 (-1).