Dubai (UAE): Many of the world’s best golfers have arrived in Doha ready to contest the 13th staging of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, which gets underway with the traditional pre-event Pro-Am today (Wednesday).

After a thrilling first leg to the 2010 Middle East Swing that saw Europe’s leading players consolidate their presence near the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking, the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy takes centre stage this week with seven of the top fourteen lining up at Doha Golf Club.

Among them defending champion Alvaro Quiros, eleventh last week in Abu Dhabi, will be relishing the opportunity to retain his title against so many of the world’s best, led by world number four Lee Westwood and last week’s champion Martin Kaymer, who is now ranked a career-high sixth after his rousing victory over Ian Poulter in Abu Dhabi.

“There are no three tournaments that we play in a row that are as good as the three in the Middle East,” said Quiros. “The course suits big hitters and I’m looking forward to defending my title although there are many players who don’t even win once on the Tour so to win two here would be amazing.”

Meanwhile, having won back-to-back titles on The European Tour last year, Kaymer will be a serious contender this week as he looks to amass more crucial Ryder Cup points in his quest to qualify for Colin Montgomerie’s European Team to take on the USA at The Celtic Manor Resort in October.

Like Quiros – who plays with three amateurs in one of the Commercialbank teams today (Wednesday) – Kaymer will also get another taste of the potentially punishing Doha Golf Club alongside three amateurs from Rolex.

“My main goal is just to play The Ryder Cup this year,” said Kaymer. “Last week was my fifth win on Tour, which is awesome. Hopefully I can do well this week and keep climbing up The Ryder Cup rankings.”

Poulter’s stirring effort saw him move into the world’s top ten for the first time in his career, and he will be joined in Doha by number eight Henrik Stenson and number nine Paul Casey along with Kenny Perry, and Sergio Garcia, ranked 13th and 14th respectively.

Stenson has proved he has the game to tame the 7,388-yard Doha Golf Club with a victory, three runner-up spots and a seventh place finish in his last five appearances.

Speaking before making a tenth consecutive appearance in the Qatari capital, Stenson said: “I know the course inside-out, which is always going to help. It's a course I really enjoy playing. I think the three courses we play in this part of the world are great and after nine years I should have a fair idea of how to play the golf course.”

For spectators looking to spot the stars amongst the amateurs today, Poulter will lead the Four Seasons 1 team, Stenson will be with ExxonMobil 2, while Casey (Dolphin Energy 1), Perry (Commercialbank 1) and Garcia (Qatar 2022) will all be in action with entrance free of charge to the public.