Poulter and Westwood Fancy Ballantine's

Ian Poulter

Asia enthusiasts Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are each targeting victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea as they seek to maintain their outstanding records in the Far East.

Between them, the English stars have won a total of nine times in the region with numerous other top 10 finishes.

It means both are relishing the chance to lift another trophy when the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship is staged from 28 April to 1 May at the prestigious Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul.

“I love it,” said Poulter, when asked about playing in Asia. “Any chance I get to play Asian tournaments I take them. I’ve had a bit of success there and I enjoy playing golf there.”

The world No.16 won last year’s Hong Kong Open and the 2009 Singapore Open – both part of the European Tour schedule – to go with his success in the Japan Golf Tour’s 2007 Phoenix Open.

Poulter, who has 10 European Tour victories to his name, will be appearing in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time although he previously finished runner-up in the 2008 Korean Open.

“It’s going to be another fun week, I’m very much looking forward to it and hopefully I can go one better than the last time I was in Korea,” he said.

“I was a little disappointed then, I bogeyed the last and as a result came up one shot shy, so I would like to go one better this time. That’s what I’m going to be working towards.”

Westwood has six career victories in Asia and has been especially successful in Japan, winning the Taiheiyo Masters three years running from 1996-98.

He featured in the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship when the tournament was played at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju and is keen try out Blackstone Golf Club.

“It will be fun,” said the world No.2. “I’ve never been to Seoul before and it’s always nice to experience new places and cultures – and the courses in Asia are normally good, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’ve played well in Asia in the past and had quite a lot of wins there – four in Japan, plus Macau and Malaysia. I’ve always enjoyed playing in Asia.”

Poulter and Westwood are part of a world-class field at the 2011 Ballantine’s Championship that also includes three-time Major winner Ernie Els, PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson and 18-time European Tour winner Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

Big-hitting Johnson – who has four victories on the PGA Tour, including two last year – will be making his first competitive appearance in Asia.

A powerful Korean contingent will be led by Asia’s first Major winner, YE Yang, reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Noh Seung Yul, and Kim Kyung Tae, a three-time winner in Japan last year.

Westwood said the Ballantine’s Championship suited his schedule as he goes in search of his first Major victory.

“It falls in the middle of two Majors, coming between the Masters and the US Open, and it’s important for me to play some strong events in that stretch so the Ballantine’s Championships fits in perfectly,” explained Westwood, who finished joint 11th in last week’s Masters.

“The Majors are what it is all about for me this year and it is vital that I get my game into good shape for those.”

The 2011 Ballantine’s Championship will once again be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

Blackstone Golf Club, in Icheon, just south of Seoul, will host the event for at least the next three years. It is the first time that the exclusive venue – which opened only in 2009 and has just 300 members – has staged a professional tournament.

European World Cup Qualifier in Estonia

Estonian Golf and Country Club

The European Qualifier for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will return to the outstanding Estonian Golf and Country Club, a European Tour Properties venue, from August 4th – 7th, 2011.

The club hosted the 2009 European Qualifier, where Canada, Wales and Scotland earned their places in the finals of the 2009 edition, held at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China.

Since then the World Cup of Golf has become a biennial event, and after a break in 2010 it returns to the European Tour International Schedule this year for the 56th edition, this time at Mission Hills Resort, Hainan, China.

The leading 18 players from different countries on the Official World Golf Ranking automatically qualify for the tournament, and there are an additional nine places available from the qualifiers – three each from Europe, Asia and South America. China will qualify automatically as the host nation.

Estonian Golf and Country Club, located just outside Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, and named in Golf World Magazine’s Top 100 European courses, provided a stern test for Europe’s hopefuls two years ago, and its Chief Executive, Hanno Kross, is delighted to be hosting the qualifier again.

“It is an opportunity that we just can’t let slip,” said Kross. “Hosting a qualifier of the World Cup in Estonia will not only influence the popularity of golf and confirm its status in Estonia, but will also confirm that Estonia is very much on the golfing map of the world and through that will also increase the number of golf tourists travelling to Estonia.”

David MacLaren, Director of Property and Venue Development for European Tour Properties, said: “Estonian Golf and Country Club is now receiving the acclaim it deserves, as one of the very finest venues in continental Europe, with a setting that has to be seen to be believed.

“Its status as a European Tour Course reflects this quality, and we are delighted to reward the vision and commitment of Mait Schmidt, the club’s owner, through the hosting of this important tournament.”

European Tour Properties comprises a network of world class golf venues, and the current portfolio includes venues in England, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Estonia, Germany and Finland.

World Number Commits to Maybank

Martin Kaymer

The field for the 50th edition of the Malaysian Open will contain no fewer than four Major Champions as a stellar field prepares to do battle at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from April 14th – 17th.

World Number One Martin Kaymer, reigning Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, 2005 US Open winner Michael Campbell and 2004 Open Champion Todd Hamilton have signed up for the event, where the top players from The European Tour and the Asian will contest a US$2.5million prize fund.

Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, Englishman John Parry, Rhys Davies of Wales, Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, Spaniard Pablo Martin and Korea’s Noh Seung-yul are also in the field, along with Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit, the reigning Senior Tour Order of Merit champion.

Ruangkit is one of four wildcard selections, joining Joakim Haeggman, Matthew Nixon and Alexandre Kaleka.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Golf has grown at a phenomenal rate in Malaysia over the past half century, and indeed since the historic 1999 Malaysian Open which was the first co-sanctioned tournament between The European Tour and the Asian Tour, so it is always with great pleasure that our Members return to this enchanting country to help further this development while testing their own games.

“The strength of the field which will assemble at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country in two weeks’ time is testament to the stature of the tournament and the eventual winner will join an illustrious roll of honour.”

Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, said: “The Maybank Malaysian Open will showcase the elite players from the Asian Tour taking on their counterparts from The European Tour. Over the years, our highly talented members have enjoyed great success in Malaysia and used the prestigious championship to propel their careers to greater heights.

“We look forward to the 50th edition of the Maybank Malaysian Open which no doubt will be the best yet in its history judging from the line-up of world-class players from Asia and internationally.”

On the wildcard selections, Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Chairman of Maybank, said: “We feel that these four fine professionals deserve the chance based on past and recent performances. Age is no factor. In fact with age comes experience and these players might even surprise audiences at the Malaysian Open and emerge as the champion.

“Also, over the past 50 years, the Malaysian Open has nurtured and grown individual talents, who have gone on to greater heights. This year, the strong line-up of players will improve motivation among all players and audiences will definitely get to witness a fantastic golf spectacle at the 50th edition of the Malaysian Open.”

Flowers of Scotland....

Martin Laird at Bay Hill

The Home of Golf is celebrating a unique double this morning after Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird became the first Scots to win on both sides of the Atlantic on the same weekend.

First Lawrie captured the Open de Andalucia de Golf by Turkish Airlines – his first win in nine years – with a one stroke victory at Parador de Málaga Golf and then Laird followed suit by becoming the first Brit to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill, with Justin Rose also enjoying a good weekend as the Masters preparations moved up a gear by taking a share of third place.

It’s the first time that two Scots have won on golf’s two major tours on the same day, although Ken Brown and Sandy Lyle came close in 1987 when Brown won the Southern Open on the US PGA Tour and the following week Lyle won the German Masters on The European Tour.

Laird, who started the year in 50th place in the Official World Golf Ranking, moved up to career high of 21st, a climb of 19 places on the previous week, while Rose moved up three places to 26th.

Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion, advanced to 150th from 272nd with a victory that also secured his place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin GC, Casares, Andalucia, in May. With the top two in the Open de Andalucia de Golf by Turkish Airlines qualifying for the match play, second placed Johan Edfors also booked his return ticket to Andalucia.

The Scottish weekend of joy follows the recent launch of two major initiatives to nurture talent through Team Scottish Hydro and Scottish Golf Support Limited and comes on the back of Sandy Lyle’s victory two weeks ago on the European Senior Tour when he ended a 19 year wait for a title by winning the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship presented by Mission Hills China.

2011 English Open is Cancelled

Darren Clarke

The 2011 English Open at St Mellion has been cancelled amid growing concerns over the viability of professional golf tournaments in England after organisers said they were unable to raise the £2m sponsorship needed to host the event in August.

Over the past two years £20m has been invested in upgrading St Mellion's course and facilities.

The PGA and the Open Championship will now be the only professional events held in England in 2011.

The English Open has not been played as part of the European Tour since 2002, Darren Clarke winning the last event at the Forest of Arden and the tournament was due to return to the European schedule at St Mellion in 2009, but was postponed for two years after developers suffered financial difficulties.

However, problems raising money have struck once again, as Stephen Towers, resort director at St Mellion told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"We'd need a headline sponsor to bring in over £1m to stage this event," he said, "So going out there and finding sponsorship we're looking at the high-end blue-chip companies, but a lot are involved in Olympic sponsorship and many others are curtailing their spending back with the current economic times."

The economic benefits of staging a professional golf tournament are substantial - last year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor brought in £84.5m to the Welsh economy.

European Tour New Policy on Betting

The European Tour has a new policy in its regulations this year that forbids a player or a caddie to place a bet on any golf tournament in which they are participating.

"It's a completely new regulation for us," said David Garland, director of tour operations. "We just feel that looking at other sports, and instances of gambling scandals in other sports over here, we didn't have a policy. It's been a little topical at the moment."

Garland said golf is the fourth-most popular betting sport in the United Kingdom. During some of the major championships, there can be bets on who will have the lowest score among a particular group, or even as simple as who will place in the top 10.

The first section of the policy is that no player or caddie can either directly or indirectly bet or be involved in a bet in a competition they are playing or have any influence. Another section forbids players or caddies to provide information in which either has inside information.

"I don't think the $20 bet is a problem," said Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the tournament committee. "We've had big scandals in cricket, there's stuff going on in snooker. You have to protect yourself against the inside stuff."

Garland said. "We know the caddies have a range of small bets. It's just making them aware that it can lead to other things. They've got to realize caddies are an integral part of the golfer's team. They can influence, and they need to be aware of this policy."

Garland said the tour essentially needed to protect itself with a policy, especially in light of other scandals. Unlike the anti-doping policy, in which a six-month education process preceded the policy taking effect, the tour put it in the books immediately and will spend the next year talking to various people involved to make them understand.

"What we've seen in other sports is that it's the individual who's not at the top of the game that gets involved," Garland said. "It starts with information. Then it goes to, 'Can you do this for me and do that for me?' In the world of illegal gambling, these are high numbers people are talking about, and it may become tempting.

"We want to get this over to players, caddies and everyone connected on the tour about the dangers involved."

Costantino Rocca to Play Siclian Open

Costantino Rocca

Italy’s most successful golfer, Costantino Rocca, believes this month’s Sicilian Open will help his country build on a hugely successful 2010 campaign and help nurture new talent. 

Last season saw the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, emulate the 54 year old as Ryder Cup players, while teenager Matteo Manassero recorded his first European Tour victory, and Rocca feels the Sicilian Open is an important part of Italy’s continuing development into a golfing force.

The 54 year old, who now plies his trade on the European Senior Tour, is making a rare return to European Tour action to support the inaugural tournament from March 17-20, which is the first event of the 2011 schedule to be played on European soil.

“It is very important for golf in Italy that we have another European Tour event as well as the BMW Italian Open,” said Rocca, who lost in a play-off to John Daly in The 1995 Open Championship. “Having these tournaments helps young Italian players come through and see the best players in action.

“Sicily is an important region for the development of golf in our country and this tournament comes at the right time. In Sicily you can play golf 12 months a year and we need to promote the region and let people know that.

“We are building new golf courses in Italy but we’ve only had one tournament over the past couple of years. Sponsors want to see more tournaments and to attract more people. We have the facilities, the courses, the weather and some good young players coming through so we need to promote golf in this way, through tournaments.

“I always try to support events in Italy and with the success we’ve had over the last year we need to put ourselves in the front line to keep up with Spain and France and other countries in the Mediterranean area.”

The five time European Tour winner, who famously defeated Tiger Woods in The 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama to help Seve Ballesteros’ Europe defeat the United States, is confident that host venue, the magnificent Donnafugata Golf Resort and SPA, will be a good test for Europe’s current crop of stars.

“I played the course in December and it is a very young course but it is also a very good course,” said Rocca. “It is a nice resort with great facilities and the hotel is on the golf course, which is perfect for the players.

“The rough is not too severe – it’s probably about 10 cm – and the greens were fast and undulating. There are also some strong winds, which you would expect in Sicily as it’s not far from the sea. It will be a good test for the European Tour players.”

Rocca will be joined in the field for the inaugural Sicilian Open by Colin Montgomerie, one of his teammates from his three Ryder Cup appearances in 1993, 1995 and 1997.

As well as helping to attract crowds to the tournament, Rocca is also looking forward to The 2010 Ryder Cup Captain’s appearance on a personal level.

“As I don’t really play on The European Tour anymore it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Monty – probably about five or six years – so I’m looking to catching up with him,” he said. “He did a great job winning The Ryder Cup last year in tough conditions so it will be nice to see him again.

“Maybe I can start a new relationship with him again in Sicily,” he joked. “It will also be good to see some of the younger players too though. I respect them a lot and hopefully they might respect me too and put the tees forward.”

Kaymer to Play Maybank Malaysian Open

Martin Kaymer

Maybank announced on Thursday that Martin Kaymer will headline the 156-men field at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011, alongside Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and Rory McIlroy at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from April 14th -17th, 2011.

Kaymer, 26, is currently ranked number two in the world after recently claiming his third Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship title in four years to add to his four victories in 2010, which included the US PGA Championship. He was also a member of the winning European Ryder Cup Team and became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2006 to win three successive tournaments in a year and the first European to achieve this feat since Nick Faldo in 1989.

Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Chairman of Maybank, said: “We are delighted with Martin Kaymer’s participation at the Maybank Malaysian Open which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. This will surely raise the stakes in the game. To have such a sensational star alongside the three international golfers already confirmed - Oosthuizen, Schwartzel and McIlroy, will certainly add grandeur and interest in the Maybank Malaysian Open. This is by far our most impressive line up of players at the Maybank Malaysian Open."

Maybank also announced two local golfers Khor Kheng Hwai and Mohd Sukree Othman have received invitations to play alongside some of the world’s best with hopes to create history as the first Malaysian winner.

Khor Kheng Hwai has participated in various major events in the span of his career including the Brunei Open 2010, The King’s Cup 2010 and The Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters 2009. Up to date, Khor’s best result was produced at the Indonesia Presidential Invitational 2010 where he tied for 40th place.

Mohd Sukree Othman was among top 5 to qualify for the Maybank Malaysian Open through the National Qualifiers in 2010. Sukree emerged as runner-up in two separate occasions – Professional Golf Association ff Malaysia Golf Classic 2010 and the 18th HLA-Saujana Amateur Open 2005, which boosted the credentials of his career as an amateur.

“Khor and Sukree have both contributed to our local golf industry through their unwavering devotion and dedication in representing Malaysia in local and foreign competition. Khor’s overseas participation has produced satisfactory outcomes, proving that it is possible for a local golfer to achieve a great feat playing in a foreign green. Sukree, on the other hand is revered as a dedicated professional golf coach. Together with the other Malaysia players, we hope our local boys will shine in this year’s Open,” added Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor.

In addition to Maybank’s exemption announcement, event organisers, GlobalOne has also announced one of their nominated players - Nicholas Fung - will participate at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 under Global One’s invitation. The 21 year old had a successful amateur career with several wins next to his name including the Sabah International Junior Masters in 2008.

“We have chosen Nicholas Fung as he has performed well in the last couple of years and feel he will be able to represent Malaysia to the best of his ability said John Eu, Chief Executive Officer, GlobalOne.

Making history as the first ever co-sanctioned tournament in Asia by both the Asian and European Tours in 1999, the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will feature top players from the rankings of both these world-leading circuits to make up the 156-player line-up. 

A star-studded field is expected at the 50th edition of the Maybank Malaysian Open vying for the US$2.5 million prize purse

Winds of Change in European Golf

Paul Casey and Ian Poulter

It was this time 12 months ago that the wheels were put in motion for what many expert commentators have called The European Tour’s greatest season.

Something clicked into gear, sparking the most successful year in the Tour’s history which culminated in Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer rising to Number One and Two in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Throughout the course of the season, European Tour players became the ones to be feared, the ones to dominate the biggest events in the sport.

That something was Ian Poulter’s victory in the WGC-Accenture Match Play, where he became the first English winner of a WGC event. Not only did Poulter win, the event was dominated by European Tour Members with seven of the eight quarter-finalists holding Tour Membership.

Stewart Cink was the odd one out among Poulter, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Oliver Wilson, Retief Goosen, Thongchai Jaidee and Camilo Villegas, and the American was beaten by Casey in the semi-finals, ensuring the first all-European final.

Poulter took the spoils while Casey finished runner-up for a second successive year after losing out to Geoff Ogilvy in the final 12 months earlier. The European Tour had laid down a marker.

Two weeks later Ernie Els won the WGC-CA Championship in Florida, where seven of the top ten were European Tour Members, and the next month Lee Westwood finished runner-up at the Masters Tournament, the first of two near-misses in Major Championships in 2010 for the Englishman.

Within a fortnight of his WGC victory, Els won again in America, this time at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and it was the catalyst for a number of victories for European Tour Members on US soil.

Australian Adam Scott triumphed at the Valero Texas Open before Rory McIlroy blew away the rest of the field – including Phil Mickelson – with a final round 62 to take the Quail Hollow Championship title. Englishman Justin Rose followed suit with victories at the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National, while Westwood clinched the St Jude Classic and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell capped his stunning 2010 campaign by winning the Chevron World Challenge.

While it was an unprecedented season in terms of success for European Tour Members on the US PGA Tour, it was in Majors and World Golf Championships that they exerted their ever increasing influence.

McDowell’s magnificent victory in the US Open Championship, where he finished one shot ahead of Frenchman Grégory Havret to become the first European to take the title in 40 years, was just the start.

The momentum was with European Tour players, and gathered pace when Louis Oosthuizen captured The Open Championship at St Andrews by a staggering seven shots. Westwood finished second, and the top of the leaderboard was once again dominated by European Tour players – indeed, Sean O’Hair and Nick Watney were the only non-members in the top ten.

The following month Martin Kaymer captured his first Major at the US PGA Championship and McIlroy was tied third. It was Kaymer’s second title of the year and he would later add the KLM Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in a wonderful season which culminated in him being crowned Race to Dubai champion.

Kaymer can also add a fifth victory of 2010 if he counts The Ryder Cup, the German contributing two and a half points from four at The Celtic Manor Resort as Europe edged an exciting contest 14½-13½. The Americans put up a tremendous fight, but perhaps Europe’s victory – sealed by McDowell’s narrow win over Hunter Mahan in the final day singles – was indicative of Europe’s – and The European Tour’s – global success.

In November, Francesco Molinari made it three wins out of four for The European Tour in WGC events by claiming the WGC-HSBC Champions title in Shanghai, China. Once again he held off fellow Members to triumph, with Westwood second, Richie Ramsay and Luke Donald sharing third and McIlroy fifth.

That same week Westwood was elevated to World Number One, ending Tiger Woods’ 281-week reign, and he soon justified his position by winning the Sunshine Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge in December.

Since then Kaymer has overtaken Woods to become World Number Two, and to have the two best players on the planet playing on The European Tour speaks volumes.

There is no taking away from the fact that the likes of Woods, Mickelson and a host of young Americans such as Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson will always be on the radar, but as a result of The European Tour’s incredible 2010, its Members are now more often than not the favourites heading into golf’s biggest tournaments.

The four events in the Middle East have shown Europe’s top players are continuing to press on and Kaymer, Casey, Thomas Björn and the current Race to Dubai leader, Alvaro Quiros, will all be swapping one desert course for another high in confidence with a win under their belts. 

At Ritz Carlton Golf Club next week, players such as Poulter, Casey, Westwood, Kaymer, Luke Donald, Els and McIlroy will be the ones the rest of the field want to avoid. It is a big ask to have seven Members in the quarter-finals again this year, but on the scintillating form of so many players, it would take a brave man to bet against it.

European Strength on Show in Doha

Kaymer and Westwood in action at 210 Ryder Cup

The strength of The European Tour is once again illustrated by the quality of the field for this week’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy with the world’s two highest ranked golfers leading the way.

England’s Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer of Germany, who currently occupy the Number One and Two spots respectively in the Official World Golf Ranking, headline the 132-strong entry for the third tournament out of four on The European Tour International Schedule’s exciting Desert Swing.

Four from the world’s top seven will feature this week with Westwood and Kaymer, the first Europeans to occupy the top two places in the world since Sir Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer in 1993, joined by The European Tour’s newest champion, England’s Paul Casey, who captured the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions in style at The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain last week, and American Steve Stricker.

Furthermore, there are eight players from the world’s top 20 including the defending champion Robert Karlsson of Sweden, along with Ian Poulter of England and the South African pair of Retief Goosen and Louis Oosthuizen, the reigning Open Champion.

The last time two Europeans went head to head as World’s Number One and Two in a regular European Tour event was July 1993, when Sir Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer were under the spotlight in the Carrolls Irish Open at Mount Juliet, a tournament subsequently won by the Englishman, and it would not be surprising to see either of the men who currently head the new world order challenging at Doha Golf Club.

Kaymer showed his game is in fine fettle with his stunning eight shot victory two weeks ago in the tournament which kicked off the Desert Swing, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship; a victory which helped the reigning Race to Dubai champion move to World Number Two.

And the coveted World Number One spot is once again within range for Kaymer. The 26 year old needs to either win with Westwood finishing outside the top two, of finish second and Westwood outside the top 22, if he is to become the 14th World Number One since the Rankings began in 1986.

Westwood showed his credentials as a potential winner in the same event in Qatar 12 months ago when he finished in a tie for third place, four shots adrift of champion Robert Karlsson. Indeed, had the Englishman not suffered the mishap of cracking the face of his driver early in the final round, the outcome might have been different.

“It’s a golf course that suits me down to the ground,” said Westwood. “When you get rough like you do in Doha, it is a good driver's golf course so I would expect it to suit me. It's almost like a Major Championship setup with firm greens and thick rough. With its firm greens, you can get close to the flags – but you need to be mentally strong as it is a thinking man's golf course.”

It was, therefore, no surprise that one of the most cerebral players on Tour – Karlsson – captured the iconic Mother of Pearl trophy 12 months ago, a victory which finally convinced the Swede that the eye problems which had marred his 2009 season were finally behind him.

“It was a fantastic win for me as it felt really good to go there and do well,” said Karlsson. “I definitely think it is one of the best golf courses we play on Tour because there is a good mix of holes. There is everything from testing par fives to drivable par fours and tough par threes, plus there is always wind. It is challenging.”

Meanwhile, World Number Seven Stricker will be getting his first taste of competition in the region as he makes his desert debut. An infrequent traveller outside the United States, Stricker’s participation – alongside Phil Mickelson’s involvement in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago and Tiger Woods’ upcoming appearance in Dubai next week – further illustrates that, at this time of the year, The European Tour’s Desert Swing is the place to be in world golf.

Olazabal Plays Qatar Masters

Jose Maria Olazabal, the man who succeeded Colin Montgomerie as Europe's Ryder Cup captain, will add a vintage edge to the powerful line-up of young guns starring in this week's Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy at Doha Golf Club.

Injury and illness have combined to keep 44 year-old Olazabal away from the sharp end of European Tour competition for the past few years but with a CV that includes 23 European Tour titles and seven appearances in The Ryder Cup – three of them on winning sides – the Spaniard was a unanimous choice as captain for 2012 in Medinah.

Olazabal is making a playing return to the Tour with four straight weeks on the Desert Swing his initial competitive target – including only his second Doha appearance in 14 years at the $2.5 million Commercialbank Qatar Masters from February 3-6.

"I'm going to put myself to the test and I will have a better idea where I stand after these four weeks," he said. "I will always try to be close to the players and hear what they have to say – we all know that you need to have a good relationship with the players so everyone feels comfortable and ready to play."

The Ryder Cup may be 20 months away but Olazabal is getting down to business straight away, which is good news for tournament organisers the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercialbank.

"The last time Jose Maria played in Qatar was when we first staged the tournament back in 1998," said QGA President Hassan Al Nuaimi. "Since those early days we have grown massively and I am sure he is going to see a much different tournament when he plays this week."

The $2.5 million event is the third leg of the Desert Swing and will feature many of the game's biggest stars. Already confirmed are World Number One Lee Westwood, World Number Two Martin Kaymer, World Number Five Steve Stricker, World Number 11 Ian Poulter and defending champion Robert Karlsson, while in players like Olazabal, John Daly and Todd Hamilton the tournament also boasts a clutch of Major winners.

The second Spanish player – after Seve Ballesteros – to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Olazabal tasted Major success twice with victory at The Masters in 1994 and 1999 and formed the most successful Ryder Cup partnership in the history of the competition when he and Ballesteros combined to win 11, halve two and lose just two of their matches together.

Chris Myers, Tournament Manager and General Manager of the host Doha Golf Club, believes Olazabal will prove just as popular as the men 20 years his junior when he returns to a venue where he finished in 17th place on his only other appearance.

"Ollie is a Ryder Cup legend and his leadership in 2012 will be vital if Europe is to retain the trophy," he said. "To have him play in Qatar just two weeks after being named captain is wonderful news for our event."

www.qatar-masters.com

Clarke in Bahrain Volvo Chase

Miguel Angel Jimenez with Caddie, Michael Hough

Darren Clarke fired a seven under par second round 65 at the Volvo Golf Champions to finish on 10 under - in a four way share of 5th place - at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain and one shot off the four joint leaders - in a cluttered leader board. 

Eight players are separated by a single shot at the halfway stage of the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain - and one of them got there with his putter in two pieces – after a moment of frustration following a succession of misses.. 

The loss of the putter might have cost Jiménez dear, but in a remarkable closing stretch he had a hat-trick of birdies using his lob-wedge instead – finishing in a seven under par 65/ 

The Spaniard goes into the weekend on the 11 under mark and sharing top spot with Ryder Cup team-mates Peter Hanson and Edoardo Molinari and also Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin. 

Former Ryder Cup pair Darren Clarke and Paul Casey, South African James Kingston and Scot Stephen Gallacher are right on their heels, Gallacher following a course record-equalling 64. 

Clarke took great delight in telling how playing partner Jiménez "just caught the edge of his bag" with the putter, adding that his backswing was "a bit long". 

The Malaga golfer was in the mood to laugh about it as well, though, after picking up shots at the 15th, 16th and 17th. 

"I think now I putt with my lob-wedge," he joked. 

In contrast Molinari's start made his day after he birdied the first six holes and closed with another for a 65 as he looked for a win that could take him back above his brother Francesco on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Volvo Golf Champions leaderboard

Edoardo Says No to PGA Tour

Edoardo Molinari 

Edoardo Molinari says he has no intention of joining the PGA Tour in the United States in the foreseeable future.

The Italian had been expected to join Graeme McDowell and Robert Karlsson in taking up PGA Tour membership.

However, the 30-year-old Ryder Cup winner is not willing to commit to the extra three events he needs to take his quota up to the required 15.

"I just feel it's impossible to play 15 events on the PGA Tour as is required under their membership rules, along with the 20 that I want to play here on the European Tour," he said.

"I will play the Honda Classic, the Bay Hill Invitational because I played so well there last year in finishing second plus the Players Championship and the Memorial.

"It will mean that with those four events along with the WGCs and the Majors I will be playing 12 events that would count on the PGA Tour.

"But I am not prepared to play 15 and I can't see myself taking up membership in the future as I find the best way to prepare for the Majors and the WGCs is to be competing in Europe."

Quiros Makes Fast Start in Bahrain

Alvaro Quiros

Big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros quickly established himself as the man to catch at the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain.

Quiros birdied the first four holes on the back nine and added another at the 429 yard 17th to be five under par.

The 28 year old was one ahead of Dutchman Maarten Lafeber, who was also up and running with four successive birdies, and two in front of a group which included former Open Championship winner Todd Hamilton and Italian sensation Matteo Manassero.

The 17 year old from Verona, who finished 13th in the 2009 Open Championship and last October became the youngest winner in European Tour history, was playing with Quiros and also Sergio Garcia, who in his first start of the year birdied the 13th and 17th.

Course designer Colin Montgomerie hit back from an opening bogey to be two under as well, as did World Number Nine Paul Casey.

Quiros drove into the water on the 18th and double-bogeyed, but further birdies at the first and third - he just missed a nine foot eagle attempt there - took him back to five under.

He had company at the top by then, however - and plenty of it. Swedes Alex Noren and Johan Edfors, Dane Søren Kjeldsen and South African James Kingston were all on the same mark.

Manassero went to tap in from 18 inches at the first and missed it for his first bogey, but he matched Quiros' birdie two holes later and Garcia made four there too.

It put them both on three under, but Casey was back to level par after double-bogeying the 17th.

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Casey Ready for Volvo Action

Paul Casey

World Number Nine Paul Casey hopes to have removed any rust from his game in Abu Dhabi last week as he prepares for the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain.

The highest-ranked player in the field this week, the Englishman finished in a tie for 18th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in what was his first event on the 2011 Race to Dubai.

A hole-in-one during the Saturday's third round 67 was the highlight of the 33 year old's week - and he can now look forward to a three-day stay in the Emirates Palace as reward for his accomplishment.

"Just very rusty," was Casey's assessment of his performance at the start of the desert swing.

"I played very nicely on the weekend, the rest of it was just average. Didn't really do anything brilliantly - maybe it wasn't disastrous - it was just a bit sort of flat.

"I'm definitely going to use that prize, whether it's for it Grand Prix or Volvo Ocean Race, whatever it might be, it's going to be a good prize."

The aim for the ten-time European Tour winner this week is to get an early trophy under his belt in 2011, especially after failing to land a top prize in 2010.

And Casey felt his game was coming together after Wednesday's pro-am at The Royal Golf Club's Colin Montgomerie-designed course.

"I played nicely," he added. "Tee to green I was okay and I think the golf course, pretty good tee to green.

"It's clearly interesting once you arrive on the greens. but with the green speeds, there's no reason why you can't hole putts and make birdies out there."

Another player looking to kick on in their second week back after a winter break is Casey's compatriot Ian Poulter.

The Ryder Cup star missed the cut last week, having begun the year with a round of 75.

"Obviously not how I wanted to start 2011 in Europe," said the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play champion.

"I didn't drive it great on Thursday - that put me in a few awkward positions. I think I missed seven fairways and I couldn't reach seven of the greens from the fairways I missed, so consequently I was out of position and it was difficult to make pars.

"I went to the range and played lovely, and then I played Saadiyat for Gary Player's day on Monday and made 12 birdies. That's the fun of the game we play."

No Bunkers in Bahrain

Royal Golf Club Bahrain

Players, officials, television viewers and spectators have been asked to be aware that, for the purposes of this week’s Volvo Golf Champions, there will be no ‘bunkers’ as such on The Montgomerie Course, with all sand areas defined as waste areas.

At The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, it is often very difficult to make a judgement on what is a waste area and what is a bunker.

The rules covering each of these areas are very different. Waste areas are through the green and there are fewer restrictions; you can take practice swings, you can move loose impediments, you can ground your club lightly behind the ball.

Bunkers are hazards. No practice swings can be taken, loose impediments cannot be moved, the ground cannot be touched with the club before the stroke is made and there are penalties for a breach of these rules.

To provide some clarity in this area and to avoid many needless penalties, all sand areas (other than those marked as water hazards) will this week be treated as waste areas and are through the green.

This means that players will be able to take practice swings, they will be able to move loose impediments and they will be able to ground the club lightly behind the ball in all sand areas.

European Tour Chief Referee Andy McFee, said: “We have taken this decision to provide clarity for the players given that the rules in the two areas are so very different. The golf course is absolutely fine but the blurring of the boundaries between desert and bunker, whilst visually attractive, potentially provides a major problem of definition.

“As this is common throughout the course and not restricted to the odd situation here and there, we felt this was the best way to exercise our duty to define the course properly.

“It has been done before – Kiawah Island Ocean Course is the best example and both The 1991 Ryder Cup and the World Cup of Golf in 2003 were played with no bunkers on the course.

“It will lead to some odd looking situations but that is infinitely preferable to players incurring penalties. As we know, television viewers are quick to call or write in when they see something wrong but on this occasion we are alerting them, in advance, that this course is different.

"It is the reverse of the situation prevalent at Whistling Straits last year during the 2010 US PGA Championship. On that course, there are 1200 sand areas and the vast majority of them look like bunkers, so the clarity was provided by declaring them all bunkers.

"At The Royal Golf Club, many of the questionable areas look like and merge into desert, so we are going to treat them as desert."

Bahrain's Monty Course Centre Stage

The Montgomerie Course at The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain, has become the latest new frontier for The European Tour, with the hosting of the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions this week. The limited field, €1,700,000 event is the debut for both course and country on the international stage, with Bahrain becoming a welcome fourth partner on the lucrative desert swing. 

Colin Montgomerie designed both the dramatic, championship 18-hole course and the stunning, Par Three 'Wee Monty' course at The Royal Golf Club, in association with European Golf Design. Both courses have been designed and constructed to provide an authentic links golf experience in the desert, with fast running fairways and open approaches to firm greens to promote the ground game. 

Built around the footprint of the old Riffa Golf Club and in association with the brand new, prestigious Riffa Views residential development, the Montgomerie Course embraces the desert environment like no other in the Gulf region.

Here, the desert wastes and dramatic wadi landforms entwine with and surround the pristine, paspalum fairways, giving the course a rugged, windswept dunescape. The greens are the focal point. Often dramatically large they are notable for their intricate, abundant contouring.

The ragged bunker styling gives the course the natural, eroded character one would expect of an exposed and often windy desert location. The back nine of the Montgomerie Course is floodlit; a first for the European Tour, which may come in handy on Sunday evening in the event of a play off.

Colin first visited Bahrain in 2006 and maintained a close personal overview throughout construction, to ensure that this unique project lived up to its bold concept. “If something is carrying your name, you personally ensure that you give it your full attention. You want it to be something special, not just for yourself but for all golfers who give up their time to play your creation - and, hopefully it leaves them with a long lasting impression.”

Robin Hiseman from European Golf Design was the project architect responsible for bringing Monty’s vision to life. “Working with Colin was a genuine collaboration,” said Hiseman. “ He trusts European Golf Design to create courses that respect his design philosophies and which express his character. He gave a great deal of personal time to the creation of this course and that investment has paid dividends with two courses bursting with aesthetic and strategic variety and personality.

“The tour pros can’t afford to take liberties with Monty’s course and if the wind blows hard, as it often does on the island then they will have a real battle on their hands. The opening four holes played into the prevailing wind, is potentially the toughest opening stretch on tour. Equally, there are plenty of birdie opportunities, especially holes nine through 14. Par is historically a good round at the Montgomerie Course, so it will be fascinating to see the world’s best golfers take it on. For sure, they will find that the greens are amongst the most undulating ever seen on tour.”

“We always planned on the Montgomerie Course hosting a European Tour event,” said Montgomerie. “To have the prestigious Volvo Golf Champions here is a real thrill. It’s a brilliant golf course and I look forward to seeing what the world’s best can do there. Whether I play poorly or whether I play well, I am going to enjoy the week and I look forward to talking to the other players about the course and seeing what they feel about it. I am delighted with the end result.”