For the third year in succession, Gulf Times – Qatar’s leading English language newspaper – will play a key role in the promotion of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy.
While many of the newspaper’s editorial and photographic staff will be capturing the action in words and pictures, Gulf Times is again in full view of spectators and the global media as an official sponsor.
“The event is growing out of all recognition from its inception and has become one of the region's premier sporting events with worldwide exposure,” said Gulf Times’ Managing Editor Neil Cook. “The calibre of the players taking part ensures that is the case.
“The population of Qatar is growing fast and the tournament gives Gulf Times the means to reach out to existing and potential readers, many of whom are sports enthusiasts. As a media sponsor it also gives us an opportunity to develop further our multi-media strategy going forward.”
As well as the backing of global brands, it is the support of prominent Qatari-based companies that have helped elevate the $2.5 million tournament into the upper echelons of the European Tour and a regular playing fixture on the calendars of players like Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.
Organised by the Qatar Golf Association (QGA) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) in tandem with title sponsors Commercialbank, the tournament has again attracted a some of the biggest names in the game, including American Kenny Perry who very rarely leaves the confines of the US PGA TOUR.
“Outside of the US, I usually only play The (British) Open so this is only my second European Tour event,” smiled Perry.
Securing marquee players like Perry has become a hallmark of an event that now consistently offers the players a chance to win significantly more world ranking points than are available at tournaments being staged at the same time elsewhere in the world.
Once again, spectators can enjoy the action free of charge. Play gets underway again with day two on Friday (Jan 29) at 6.40am, while the final two days will see the action heat up from around 7am before the champion receives the prestigious Mother of Pearl trophy around 4.45pm on Sunday evening (Jan 31).
