In 2020 and 2021 this event moved from it's longtime home of Doha Club but this course has held every renewal of the event bar those two dating back to the late 1990s.

Sami Valimaki was the latest player who is well versed in wind play to win at this venue and he joined a long list of champions who have form in similar conditions and in particular links golf.

Paul Lawrie, Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson are three Open Champions who have won at this venue. Garcia, Bjorn and Scott are three champions here who all blew great chances to win the Open also.

Pepperell, Grace and Wood make up another trio who have some fine links records and in conclusion we are looking to these types of players who are well equipped to score in tricky conditions. The wind looks set to blow the hardest on the first couple of days and although the forecast doesn't look too bad it's very rare that this event doesn't throw up the same test as what we're used to. 

Past Champions and Winning Score

  • 2023 - S.Valimaki  (-18)
  • 2022 - Ewen Ferguson (-7)
  • 2021 - A.Rozner  (-8) *Education City Course
  • 2020 - J.Campillo  (-13) *Education City Course
  • 2019 - J.Harding  (-13)

 

Qatar Masters Tips from Niall Lyons

  • 1.5pts each-way A.Fitzpatrick  33/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes
  • 1pt each-way D.Frittelli  70/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes
  • 0.75pt each-way A.Sullivan 100/1  (1/5 7) Paddy Power
  • 0.75pt each-way D.Micheluzzi  90/1  (1/5 7) Paddy Power
  • 0.5pt each-way R.Gouveia 300/1 (1/5 6) Sky Bet
  • 0.5pt each-wat F.Celli 225/1 (1/4 5) bet365

 

Alex Fitzpatrick @ 33/1 (Seven Places)

Haotong Li is very interesting following a good start to the year unfortunately the triple figure prices have disappeared and what's left is unbackable. Alex Fitzpatrick is another who has shortened a little in the last 24 hours but at 33/1 I'm happy to get involved.

Just how far Alex will travel towards the heights his brother has reached is anyone's guess but so far on tour he has been exceptional and a victory looks just around the corner.

He went close immediately on the main stage when finishing runner up at Galgorm Castle and a few weeks later he produced an equally impressive effort at Crans when finishing 5th in a much stronger field.

Since then two solid efforts in Australia showed his versatility and he kicked off this year with a couple of top 20s in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. He missed the cut on the Challenge Tour the week prior to finishing 2nd at the Handa World Invitational so I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the below par performance last week in Bahrain.

Doha should suit him much better and it'd be no surprise to me in the years to come should be profiled as links specialist, similar to those mentioned above who have won here. 

1.5pts each-way A.Fitzpatrick  33/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes

Alex Fitzpatrick - 1.5pts e/w

Dylan Fritelli @ 70/1 (Seven Places)

Those alive to Dylan Frittelli's chances last week must be loudly applauded given that his previous victory on the DPWT came on the coast at Mauritius. Any venue in particular where work around the greens come into it Frittelli is more equipped than most. I'm somewhat surprised for a former PGA Tour winner with numerous fine efforts in Major Championships that his price hasn't taken a bit more of a tumble this week.

This time last year Frittelli finished 14th in the Waste Management Phoenix Open before the year took a total nosedive. The drop down in class counts for plenty though and Harrison Endycott was another example of that last week in Bahrain posting a top 20 having had a torrid time on the PGA Tour of late. I believe the South African will fancy of chances of winning once again in a similar field and I had expected his odds to drop closer to the 40/1 mark. 

1pt each-way D.Frittelli  70/1  (1/5 7) Coral, Ladbrokes

Dylan Fritelli - 1pt e/w

Andy Sullivan @ 100/1 (Seven Places)

Andy Sullivan didn't do so bad in all departments of the game last week in Bahrain and at triple figures looks worth chancing. He has spent the last number of years really struggling but got things together at the back end of 2023 finishing 12th in Joburg and 7th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

To shoot 9 under around that track over four days suggested he wasn't too far off finding some of his best form again. Two made cuts from three in 2024 has been an uneventful start but he did a fair job last week and a course like Doha GC suits him.

9th here in 2013 and another two top 20 finishes since suggests he can score well enough around here and a former winner of the Portugal Masters always looks good on a CV heading to this track. 

0.75pt each-way A.Sullivan 100/1  (1/5 7) Paddy Power

Andy Sullivan - 0.75pts e/w

David Micheluzzi @ 90/1 (Seven Places)

David Micheluzzi is another worthy of interest having made the shortlist week in Bahrain. He performed well there finishing 16th and his performances in DPWT events thus far are eye catching.

He has played ten times on this tour dating back around 14 months and bar three missed cuts he hasn't finished outside the top 20 in any of the other seven. 16-18-14-17-21-10-6 are his results in those seven events and he certainly looks comfortable in this sphere having won plenty on the Australasian tour.

The Aussies usually have a good record in the wind and in two efforts so far at the Dunhill Links Micheluzzi has finished 36th and 14th. He has plenty of winning experience in the past twelve months and Doha looks like a good set up for him. Finished with a 68 last Sunday in Bahrain that was only beaten by two others. 

0.75pt each-way D.Micheluzzi  90/1  (1/5 7) Paddy Power

David Micheluzzi - 0.75pts e/w

Ricardo Gouveia 300/1 (Six Places) 

At 300/1 I can't help but have a small wager on Ricardo Gouveia. The Portuguese 32-year-old has a ton of experience now under his belt and is certainly one who will relish the conditions in Doha.

He won twice on the Challenge Tour circuit last year which took his tally to seven victories on that tour. It's somewhat of a surprise that he hasn't fared better on the main tour but he posted a 23rd placed finish at Al Hamra a couple of weeks ago, a venue that wouldn't necessarily suit.

A look back to 2016 will see him finishing 7th here and with the improvement in his game the last 10 months we could see him go well once again at this venue. At 300/1 it certainly doesn't take much to find out.

0.5pt each-way R.Gouveia 300/1 (1/5 6) Sky Bet

Ricardo Gouveia - 0.5pts e/w

Filippo Celli 225/1 (Five Places) 

Even though we don't get the 400/1 we managed last week, I feel there it little reason to desert Filippo Celli on another track that should really suit.

I am regurgitating the same spiel as last week but having won an Amateur Championship as well as winning the silver medal at St Andrews for low amateur he has the perfect profile for a contender here.

With one round of 68 at Ras then four solid enough efforts last week with his long game firing Celli could be an interesting sleeper on a course renowned for those who have played well in Open Championships.

The value in the price has diminished overnight but nobody would complain should he manage to get into the conversation on Sunday afternoon.

0.5pt each-wat F.Celli 225/1 (1/4 5) bet365

Filippo Celli - 0.5pts e/w