Dubai (UAE): Fresh from the most successful year of his career, world number four Lee Westwood has confirmed he will line up at the 2010 Commercialbank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club from January 28-31.
And after a stunning end to the 2009 campaign that saw him lift the Dubai World Championship, cement his position as the number one player in Europe and join Seve Ballesteros as the only other three-time winner of the Golf Writers’ Trophy, 36 year-old Westwood will be among the favourites to lift the prestigious Mother of Pearl Trophy.
“Last year’s line up was the strongest in the history of the tournament but with Lee Westwood, Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia and Camilo Villegas already confirmed I am confident the field of players for the 2010 event will be just as good, if not stronger,” said Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA).
World number four, Lee Westwood will be out to win his first Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy
“Every year, we see a strong pool of players confirming Doha in their diaries, which is great news for the tournament and golf in the region. And after a wonderful end to 2009, Lee Westwood will no doubt be one of the favourites to win what will be the thirteenth European Tour event staged in Qatar.”
Westwood, a two-time order of merit winner with twenty European Tour titles to his name, will be making his fifth consecutive appearance at Doha Golf Club determined to improve on his tournament best finish of equal fifth in 2008.
“I think the course (in Doha) is excellent,” he said. “It's set up just the way I think we all like. If you miss a fairway, you get penalised. The greens are true, the putts will go in if they are on line and the greens don't spike up. If the wind drops, people can do to it what Adam Scott did in 2008 with a 61 but with some wind around, it can be a demanding test of golf.”
Westwood will head to Doha as European number one after a year that saw him scoop the richest prize in European Tour history and return to the summit of the game for the first time since winning the order of merit in 2000.
“My priorities next year will once again be to challenge strongly for the Majors,” added Westwood. “I came close this year and hope to do well in all four in 2010. Hopefully, this time I’ll win one. I shall fine tune my game over the winter and return for the Middle East swing in January before heading for the States to prepare my run-in to the Masters.”
Westwood’s confirmation that he will go in search of his first Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, was welcomed by Andrew Stevens, Group CEO of title sponsors Commercialbank who stage the event in association with the QGA and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).
“Lee is one of the best European players of all time,” he said. “He was in superb form in 2009 and we look forward to welcoming him back to Doha next month where he will no doubt be one of the favourites with the galleries.”
