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By Kent Gray
A month after Dustin Johnson captured his second Saudi International title in three attempts, the European Tour season cranks back into life in Doha on Thursday.

The $1.5 million Commercial Bank Qatar Masters enjoys a rich history with Adam Scott (twice), Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Retief Goosen, Paul Lawrie and Sergio Garcia former winners of the Mother of Pearl trophy.

Quite who will join that elite company when Education City G.C. plays host to the event for the second time this week is anyone’s guess given a wide open field of seasoned European Tour winners, talented youngsters and journeymen just as hopeful of a breakthrough.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of Thursday’s first round.

Wide Open

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Being scheduled opposite golf’s unofficial fifth major, The Players Championship, is a glass half full or half empty proposition depending on your viewpoint. While the world’s great and good are at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, there are 2000 Ryder Cup points and a precious European Tour exemption on the line for the lesser lights in Doha so expect a tight tussle.

Four-time European tour winner Andy Sullivan is the highest-ranked player at 61st in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and one of just eight players rated inside the top 100 so take your pick. The Englishman’s T-25 placing in Abu Dhabi is his best finish in four 2021 starts which includes a T-68 finish at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession in the last week of February.

2020 Recap
Jorge Campillo’s epic playoff victory over David Drysdale sadly got lost in the confusion that reigned this time last year as the coronavirus pandemic swept the world. Indeed, the European Tour shut down for four months immediately after Campillo outlasted Drysdale at the fifth hole of overtime at Education City courtesy of three putts holed from more than 20 feet in the playoff.

The Spaniard is clearly looking forward to defending for the first time despite Qatar being his second European Tour win. In a crazy old year, Campillo was denied that opportunity when the Trophée Hassan II, which he won in 2019, was cancelled last year due to COVID-19.

“It’s different [being defending champion], I’ve never been in this position before because the other tournament I won [Trophée Hassan II] I couldn’t defend it. It’s new for me. I have had most of the attention this week, but I’m fine with it. It’s nice to be the defending champion.

“I’ve had a long time to think about the win. I was playing good and was ready to go to India to try and win another golf tournament, but that was stopped because of the pandemic. It was hard to come back after the break.

“The play-off stands out the most. It was such a great play-off. Besides all the putts I made, I hit some good shots too. David played great and I was glad I made those putts to keep up in the play-off.”

COVID lingers
Sadly, the pandemic remains a pesky reality for the game a year on. The European Tour announced on Wednesday that Lorenzo Scalise had been forced to withdraw after a positive COVID test.

The Italian, who has not exhibited any symptoms, was tested on arrival at Hamad International Airport on Tuesday afternoon as part of the pre-tournament screening process.

Others to watch
This week’s field includes three former champions in Darren Fichardt, Justin Harding and Eddie Pepperell, along with 2016 Ryder Cup players Thomas Pieters and Sullivan.

Pepperell, the 2018 champion at Doha Golf Club who went on to capture the British Masters seven months later, was typically forthright when he cornered for some preview content, saying “I need to become a golf professional again”

Check it out:

Desert Ascent

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Don’t be surprised if Rasmus Højgaard features strongly. The 19-year-old Dane, who won twice in his rookie season, is trending nicely this Desert Swing after rattling of T-25, T-9 and 6th places finishes in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia respectively.

Højgaard did miss the cut at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession but thinks he’s figured out why.

“I struggled at the WGC at The Concession, I think I got caught up in thinking about the result there,” Højgaard said.

“It’s a big event, you want to play well. I was thinking more about that instead of producing good golf shots. That will be my focus this week. I want to win as much as possible, but it’s more important that I keep improving my game and that should produce good results and more wins, I hope.

“It feels good to be back in Qatar, it’s a good course and I enjoyed playing it last year.”