A fully fledged hitlist of global golfing stars have been confirmed for International Series Qatar with the likes of Dubai-based Indian Anirban Lahiri, England’s Sam Horsfield, Ryder Cupper from Belgium Thomas Pieters and American Peter Uihlein announced as just a handful of top players for the penultimate event on both the International Series and Asian Tour schedule.
They are joined by the South African quartet from LIV Golf’s Stingers GC, Dean Burmester, Branden Grace with Major winners Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen in the US$2.5 million prize pool event, the most expensive prize fund to date on the 2024 International Series billing.
Grace is no doubt a favourite to do well around the Peter Harradine layout, having won twice here in the past on the DP World Tour in back-to-back years in 2015 & 2016 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The 2022 LIV Golf Portland champ will have to familiarise himself with the Doha layout with its eight strategically positioned lakes, 65 giant cacti, and numerous limestone rock formations that contrast with the fairways and pale desert, sculpted by Harradine back in the early 2000’s.
Peter Harradine – Harry Grimshaw
“Every time I go back to Doha, I really love it,” said Harradine. “It’s a hell of a golf course mainly because we had the rocks. The rocks make that course.
“When I was designing the course, I did calculate the wind. There are a few holes where the wind comes just straight across which makes it more difficult. On a windy day, the scores are not the same as on a day without wind.
“With a tough wind the ball rolls all by itself on the greens. They’ve actually stopped the tournament once in Doha because the greens are so fast.
“When Alvaro Quiros won in Doha back in 2009, he used to be very long, and was pretty straight for once off the tee.
“When he had his winners speech, he said ‘you know, all my colleagues are telling me the rough is too high, the rough is too high’. Well, the advice I gave them is stay on the fairway!’”
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I’ll say it anyway,” said a grinning Harradine. “Doha Golf Club for me, is the best golf course in the Middle East, for sure.”
Main Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
