Former US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Brandt Snedeker will hit The European Tour trail when he makes his debut at the 2009 Commercialbank Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy at Doha Golf Club from January 22-25.
The 28 year old Snedeker, who represented the US in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in November, captured the imagination of the golfing public with a third place finish at the 2008 Masters Tournament and ninth at the US Open Championship and will join friend and countryman Boo Weekley at the $2.5 million tournament.
“We always aim to bring something new to the tournament,” said Qatar Golf Association (QGA) President Hassan Al Nuami.
“Brandt is one of the most exciting young talents on the US PGA Tour who has shown he can perform on the biggest of stages. As well as Brandt and Boo, we believe we will have the strongest line-up of any tournament being staged in the Middle East at the start of the year.”
Organised by the QGA in collaboration with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercialbank, the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy, gives Snedeker his first opportunity to play The Race to Dubai.
“I'm going to play in Qatar and try to see how the year goes through the Majors and the World Golf Championships,” he said. “I don't have any kids at home - I just got married – so I have no reason not to want to travel the world. It's a great excuse for me to get out there and travel some.”
As well as delighting the galleries with his all-round play, Snedeker’s Masters debut at Augusta National eight months ago was a roller-coaster of emotion. After battling to a five over par 77 in the final round, which placed him tied for third place behind Trevor Immelman and Tiger Woods, the young American dissolved into tears.
"I did a lot of great things that week," said Snedeker, who was introduced to golf by his grandmother who managed a golf course in Missouri. "I was emotional because I came to close to living out one of my dreams and I wasn't able to do it. It's part of life, part of golf.”
Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens said Snedeker’s decision to play in the 2009 event was further indication as to Qatar’s growing global reputation as a world-class sporting venue. “Over the past few years, this tournament has grown at an incredible rate,” he said. “Events like The Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy, The Sony Ericsson Championships and the Asian Games put Qatar in the global spotlight meaning more and more international sportsmen and women are aware of just what we have to offer.”
