The Qatar Masters assumes its usual position as the middle leg of the European Tour’s “Desert Swing”, although this year reverts to a traditional Thursday-Sunday format instead of the previous Saturday finish.
Sandwiched between events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Qatar usually struggles to attract the biggest names in the game, with US Open champion Dustin Johnson opting to compete in Abu Dhabi and Tiger Woods collecting a hefty appearance fee in Dubai next week, where Rory McIlroy was also set to compete before suffering a rib fracture.
However, despite such issues Qatar has produced some top-quality winners down the years, including Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els, Adam Scott (twice), Paul Lawrie and Sergio Garcia, while Branden Grace claimed back-to-back wins 12 months ago.
All of the above are excellent links players and with the wind set to be a factor once more, the weather and course form are worth bearing in mind with our selections.
Ireland’s Paul Dunne hit the headlines when he shared the 54-hole lead in the Open at St Andrews in 2015 while still an amateur before fading on the final day to finish tied 30th.
Dunne went on to secure his card via the qualifying school and kept it last season while he was just two off the lead at halfway in Abu Dhabi before a disappointing weekend. However, at 66/1 he offers good each/way value.
Callum Shinkwin also had a poor final round in Abu Dhabi after a brilliant 65 on Saturday but the former English amateur champion still finished 23rd and had back-to-back top-10 finishes in the French and Scottish Opens last season.
Shinkwin was a creditable 35th on his debut in Qatar last year and is our second selection at 80/1.
Finally comes a choice between two Spanish players in Pablo Larrazabal and Rafa Cabrera Bello, both of whom played well in Abu Dhabi and have course form at Doha Golf Club.
Cabrera Bello, who was second in Qatar 12 months ago and has also finished third twice, was one off the lead at halfway before being hampered by a back problem over the weekend while Larrazabal birdied the 72nd hole to finish tied second with Dustin Johnson.
Cabrera Bello enjoyed a hugely consisted 2016 and a superb Ryder Cup debut but has not won since 2012 and offers less appeal at 14/1 than Larrazabal does at 33/1, so the excitable 33-year-old – who was 13th last year after an opening 65 – gets our vote to claim a fifth European Tour title.
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