By Jamie Kennedy, europeantour.com
With the Fantasy Race To Dubai now under way, we continue our search for the players with the pedigree – and form – for success. In this edition of Fantasy Five, we highlight a handful of players to consider for your team at this week's Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Sergio Garcia
For just the second time in his career, El Niño makes his first start of the year at the Qatar Masters. The well-rested Spaniard will be hoping to continue his recent form at Doha Golf Club having finished inside the top 20 in each of the last eight seasons including fifth, second and, of course, first in the last three years. Despite missing the cut in his first appearance here back in 1999, Sergio is 77 under par here since 2007 with a scoring average of 69.5.
Mikko Ilonen
Ilonen matched Sergio’s 72-hole total last year but lost out in sudden-death despite birdieing the first two play-off holes. Having picked up two wins in 2014, the Finn will like his chances returning to Qatar. He has shot ten consecutive sub-par rounds at Doha GC and arrives here having finished inside the top 25 in his last five events.
George Coetzee
The quiet South African may not demand the same attention as some of his Major-winning compatriots but certainly has the game to compete this week. He is 31 under par here in the last two years, finishing in the top five on both occasions. He picked up his first European Tour victory last year at the Joburg Open and also led the Tour in Putts per GIR. With large greens prevalent at the Peter Harradine-designed layout this week, Coetzee’s form with the flat stick could well put him in contention come Saturday afternoon.
Branden Grace
Having already won his fifth European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December, Branden Grace arrives in Qatar in top form. Seven straight top 25 finishes have displayed signs that the South African is ready for another multiple win season like he had in 2012, when he picked up four titles. Like Ilonen, he arrives at Doha GC having bettered par here in ten straight rounds with two top 15 finishes in the last two years.
Paul Lawrie
The 1999 Open Champion will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of Mother of Pearl Trophies this week, having returned victorious in Doha in the year he also captured the Claret Jug before adding a second in 2012. Coming off a top 20 finish in Abu Dhabi, Lawrie appears to be finding the form that saw him feature on the 2012 European Ryder Cup team. He has teed it up at the Qatar Masters on 15 occasions and owns a streak of nine straight under par rounds entering this year’s event.
