Doha (QATAR): After confirming himself as one of Europe’s brightest stars, Germany’s Martin Kaymer will be among the favourites when the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, is staged at Doha Golf Club for the thirteenth time from January 28-31.

World number 14 Martin Kaymer will be teeing up again in Qatar

Despite injuring his foot in a go-kart crash last year while sitting in pole position in the European standings, the 25 year-old still managed to finish third overall behind Doha-bound Lee Westwood and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy after two months off the course.

The Düsseldorf native will be gunning for a second slice of glory in the “Desert Swing’ when he tees off in the US$2.5 million Qatar event – Kaymer lifted the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in 2008 and showed he has a taste for golf in the Gulf finishing tied for second in the UAE capital just twelve months later.

“I think when it comes to European golf, the future is in safe hands with players like Martin around,” said Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), organisers of the tournament in association with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and title sponsors Commercialbank.

“He is one of eighteen players in the world’s top 50 who will be competing at Doha Golf Club and I think it’s fair to say he will be among the favourites. I know we are all excited by this year’s line-up which is clearly as good, if not better, than any we have had in the twelve-year history of the tournament.”

Kaymer’s wire-to-wire win in Abu Dhabi two years ago saw him underline his talent just months after becoming the first German to be named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year after a superb debut season in 2007 during which he recorded five top ten finishes.

A second win after Abu Dhabi, this time in his homeland at the BMW International Open, confirmed his place in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Today he is almost a permanent fixture in the world’s top twenty at number 14 – just one spot lower than his world no.13 status at the end of 2009 that earned him eligibility for this year’s Masters at Augusta.

But Kaymer has no immediate intention of joining the PGA TOUR and playing more US tournaments. “I still feel so comfortable here on The European Tour,” he said. “I still improve every week, if I play on different kind of grass.

“That's why I try to play in many different countries and continents, because I can see the way the golf courses are set up that I can improve every week and learn. And in America, every week is pretty much the same. So at the moment, I still want to learn more and play more on The European Tour, and maybe in Asia.”

Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens believes Kaymer is one of several players who are in with a very good chance of lifting Qatar’s famous Mother of Pearl Trophy. “Martin was so close to ending the year as European No.1 despite several weeks out through injury,”” he said. “I don’t think any of us would be surprised if he were in the leading group come the final round on January 31.”