Doha (QATAR): European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will be able to run the rule over the majority of his potential Ryder Cup team this week when he lines up at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy at Doha Golf Club.

Monty of the Desert - European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will star in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy

Teeing off on Thursday (January 28), the $2.5 million tournament will feature most of the 2008 European Ryder Cup team as well a host of young talent – including defending champion Alvaro Quiros – who will all be eager to qualify for the 2010 clash with the USA at Celtic Manor in Wales.

“Everyone at the Qatar Golf Association is thrilled with the news that Colin Montgomerie will be joining us for the thirteenth staging of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy,” said Qatar Golf Association (QGA) President Hassan Al Nuami.

“He may be making the news as the captain of the European Ryder Cup side but we should never forget that Colin is an eight-time Order of Merit winner, a feat that is unlikely to be repeated on the European Tour, and has won more European Tour titles than any other British player. I’m sure we’ll see many potential European Ryder Cup players trying to catch his eye at Doha Golf Club.”

Montgomerie returns to Doha just weeks after proving his prowess as both captain and player by leading his team to victory in the Royal Trophy in Thailand. Seve Ballesteros was due to captain the team but as he was not well enough, the influential Scot took on the role.

“It was an honour to captain the team,” he said. “We went with a strong team and it was very, very close, eventually winning 8½–7½. All credit to my team for fighting. They all contributed at least a point out there, including me and we did great. It's a very important year for European golf and that was a good start for us.

Monty’s playing appearance will be another highlight of a tournament that will see eighteen of the world’s top 50 in action – including US Ryder Cup star Kenny Perry – with live TV coverage going out to over 360 million homes across the globe. It will also be Montgomerie’s fourth time in the Qatar event with a sixth place finish in 2008 being his best position over Doha Golf Club.

“Once again the 126-man field is very impressive with plenty of young stars such as Alvaro Quiros and Martin Kaymer as well as established European Ryder Cup players like European No.1 Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson,” said Andy Stevens, Group CEO of title sponsors Commercialbank, organisers of the event in association with the QGA and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).

“Add in the experience of five Major winners – Michael Campbell, Paul Lawrie, Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel and Retief Goosen – as well as the undoubted aura of Kenny Perry and Colin Montgomerie and it’s clear that we have arguably the strongest field of the year so far. Congratulations must go to the QGA and the QOC for attracting some of the biggest names in the game to Qatar.”