World Number Three, Ernie Els, has confirmed his participation in the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club from March 10-13. The 2004 European Tour Order of Merit winner will be making his first appearance in Qatar and will be the highest ranked player in the world to have played in the country.
The Qatar Masters will be joint-sanctioned between The European Tour and the Asian Tour for the first time and Els is excited at the prospect of challenging Asia’’s top players including the current Asian Tour Number One, and European Tour Member, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.
The 35 year old South African said: “While I have never played previously in Qatar, I have heard very good things about the Doha Golf Club and I am really looking forward to playing there and meeting Qatar Golf Association president Hasan al-Nuaimi and everyone else who have done so much to develop this tournament.”
Joakim Haeggman secured victory in the Qatar Masters last season as he ended a seven year wait to pick up the third European Tour title of his career. The 35 year old Swede will defend his title at Doha GC as the 150 strong field do battle for the US$1,500,000 prize fund at the eighth Qatar Masters.
Past winners of the tournament that was first staged seven years ago are the Scottish pair of Andrew Coltart (1998) and Paul Lawrie (1999), Rolf Muntz of the Netherlands (2000), Zimbabwe’’s Tony Johnstone (2001), Australian Adam Scott (2002), South Africa’’s Darren Fichardt (2003) and Haeggman last season.
