DOHA: Hassan Al Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), said yesterday he expects a tough battle for the Pearl Trophy at this week’s Qatar Masters set to take place at Doha Golf Club (DGC).
After welcoming defending champion Branden Grace, Al Nuami yesterday said: “Branden Grace was a very worthy winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and we’re delighted to see how his victory spurred a sensational year in 2015. He seems to be continuing that form this year. So I expect him to be among the contenders for the Mother of Pearl Trophy this week.”
He added: “Along with other stars like Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen, we’re also looking forward to seeing leading amateurs Bryson DeChambeau and Jin Cheng make their tournament debuts. We’re also proud to welcome back two of our leading Qatari players, Saleh Al Kaabi and Ali Al Shahrani, and the winner of this month’s Qatar Open, Rayhan Thomas.”
A regular stop for the world’s top players, the $2.5m tournament has grown into one of The European Tour’s leading events, boosted by Commercial Bank’s continued title sponsorship from 2006.
Colin Macdonald, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Bank, said: “Our support of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has helped it grow into a world-class annual spectacle that has put the country on the global sporting map.
“As well as featuring a wide range of family-friendly entertainment, the tournament has become a focal point for the growth of golf in the country and an inspiration to Qataris, which is vitally important as Commercial Bank is dedicated to supporting the local community.”
David Probyn, Tournament Director, The European Tour, said Commercial Bank’s long-term title sponsorship had ensured the tournament remained a fixture on the calendar and an essential part of the circuit’s strong start to every season.
“The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has grown hugely in status with Commercial Bank’s fantastic support over the past decade,” Probyn said.
“The European Tour is now entering a second decade of working closely with Commercial Bank to develop the tournament, which is one of the circuit’s long-standing events and a regular stop for many of our top players.”
Tickets are available to buy at a range of outlets including Virgin Megastores (Online and in-store in Doha), Ticket Master, Time Out Tickets, Q Tickets, Doha Golf Club, FNAC and more.
Tickets are priced as follows, starting at QR150, a QGA statement said yesterday.
The Peninsula
