DOHA: Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer face off in a potentially thrilling battle for supremacy when the $2.5 million Qatar Masters begins at the Doha Golf Club on Thursday. It marks the first time in 17 years that two Europeans take centre stage as the world’s first and second ranked players at a regular European Tour event, something that gives the Qatar Masters pride of place in the four-leg “Desert Swing” that began in Abu Dhabi last month and concludes with the Dubai Desert Classic next week. Coincidentally it was another English-German duo of Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer who last went head to head at the Irish Open at Mount Juliet in 1993 as the World No.1 and No.2, a tournament subsequently won by the Englishman, adding an extra edge to the contest between Westwood and Kaymer in Qatar.Westwood will be making his sixth consecutive appearance in Qatar without ever having won the title, although he was just one shot off the lead going into the final round last year before cracking the face of his driver and struggling to find the fairways on a course he believes suits his style of play. “It’s a golf course that suits me down to the ground really,” Westwood said. “When you get rough like Doha, you would say it’s a good driver’s golf course so I would expect it to suit me. It’s almost like a Major Championship setup – a US Open – 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.”The Englishman however dismissed suggestions that he was under pressure as the World No. 1 with Kaymer breathing down his neck, especially since his runaway win in Abu Dhabi which leapfrogged him ahead of Tiger Woods to become the World No.2. “There is no pressure as such of being No.1. It was a reward for having played well,” said Westwood. “You get to the top position by being consistent. I’m happy that I have been able to do that. I have learnt not to expect anything. I play each week as it comes. Whoever is good enough will be there at the top.” With a field boasting four players from the world top seven and eight from the top 20, easily making the tournament the strongest yet in its 14-year history, Westwood and Kaymer have enough competition with Englishmen Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, South Africans Retief Goosen and Louis Oosthuizen, American Steve Stricker and defending champion Robert Karlsson all eyeing the top prize.
Goosen particularly has shown excellent form in recent months, finishing in the top 10 no less than 14 times in 2010, and claiming third place in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago behind eventual winner Kaymer. “In Abu Dhabi, my game got a little better as the week went on,” Goosen said. “I struggled tee-to-green for the first couple of rounds but I practised a lot on the weekend and slowly got better. Hopefully I can take it into Qatar feeling a little better, hitting the ball better and give myself a chance to win. I need four solid rounds to get a win in and just be a little more consistent from tee-to-green.” The South African is delighted to be in Doha. “The Qatar Masters holds fond memories for me after winning back in 2007,” he added. “It was an exciting last day after I finished birdie-eagle on the final two holes. I still think it is the hardest course we play out here in the Middle East and it shows by the scoring that if it gets windy it is a really tough track. It is a good golf course, I like it and the players all enjoy coming to Qatar – Dailytimes
