John Daly, Sony Open 2011
Two-time Major winner John Daly will make an exclusive Middle East appearance in a powerful field for the 2011 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy from February 3rd - 6th.
Daly, winner of the 1991 USPGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship, joins a world-class line-up for the 14th staging of Doha’s annual European Tour date as the Desert Swing reaches Qatar.
The American is always a favourite with the galleries and his big-hitting style may well be suited to the 7,388-yard desert course at Doha Golf Club.
He joins the world’s top two ranked players Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, World Number Five Steve Stricker and World Number Ten Ian Poulter in one of the strongest fields in the event’s history.
Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens said: “We are all delighted that John Daly has chosen Doha for an exclusive playing appearance on the famed Desert Swing. But while John may be a new name for Doha, we know how much fans here also like to see some of the colourful characters who have lit up the tournament in the past and in Spanish duo Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Quiros we have two of the best.
“Sergio remains one of the most popular and successful players in the game, while our 2009 champion Alvaro returned to finish as runner-up here in 2010 and will be one of the favourites to make it a Doha double.”
Like Daly, World Number Five Stricker will make his first appearance in Qatar. The American very rarely leaves the US PGA Tour and it is a major boost to the event to have him agree to make the journey to compete in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters.
Organised by the Qatar Golf Association (QGA) in collaboration with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and title sponsors Commercialbank, the tournament will feature 132 players competing for a share of $2.5 million in prize money as well as the coveted Mother of Pearl Trophy.
“Our partnership with the QOC and Commercialbank is as strong as ever and allows us to put together a field as good as any tournament staged outside of the Middle East,” said QGA President Hassan Al Nuaimi.
“Westwood, Kamyer, Stricker and Poulter are household names. Add in the likes of our defending champion Robert Karlsson and players such as Daly, Garcia and Quiros and you have a particularly strong line-up.”
