Preview
Qatar Masters Course Info
Designer: Peter Harradine
Type of Course: Desert
Used Since: 1998
Fairways: Wide
Rough: Minimal
Greens: Sizeable, contoured
Par 5's: 1st, 9th, 10th & 18th
Premium on: Wind play/desert form
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Be aware that Doha GC hosted the event between 1998-2019 and again in 2022.
Last year the event was played in March.
This is the last week for players trying to retain their DP World Tour cards, earn their PGA Tour cards and qualify for the Nedbank in two weeks time. Motivation should be a factor.
Qatar Masters Weather Forecast
The wind should be less of a factor this year in comparison to the gusts we witnessed over the weekend last year.
Thursday
Light rain and gentle breeze. Winds of 4-12mph.
Friday
Sunny. Winds of 7-14mph.
Saturday
Sunny. Winds of 6-11mph.
Sunday
Sunny. Winds of 5-9mph.
Qatar Masters Trends
Winning score
Ewen Ferguson won with -7 last year in tough conditions. Between 2006 and 2019, the winning score was between -13 and -20. Given the weather forecast, we should expect the score to be be back in the mid teens.
World Ranking
Winners at Doha between 2022 and 2009 were ranked 304-74-154-60-11-79-11-142-78-134-31-74 (most recent first). However, we should remember that this event used to attract a much higher class of field.
Correlating Courses
We shouldn't totally dismiss Education City form, Jorge Campillo was 2nd at Doha before winning at Education City and three of the top 10 in 2022 had a top 10 at Education City. Several other players have top 10 finishes at both venues. Last week's test at Sotogrande also looks a strong guide.
Course form
2022, 2019 and 2017 winners, Ewen Ferguson, Justin Harding and Jeung-Hun Wang, were making their debuts at Doha but every other champion between 2019 and 2010 had previously had a top 15 finish.
Recent form
Justin Harding is the only player between 2009 and 2022 (Doha) to have missed the cut in the week prior to his win. Five of the last twelve winners had posted a top 20 the week before winning.
Nationality
No nationality has dominated throughout the years at Doha but there have been six South African victories.
Qatar Masters Stats Analysis
Note - We only have Strokes Gained Data from 2022 where winner Ferguson ranked 21st tee to green and 8th SG: Putting.
Six years of historical stats below.
Driving Distance
Rankings of past Six winners at Doha GC have been 76-31-77-37-8-11 (most recent first).
Driving Accuracy
Rankings of past Six winners at Doha GC have been 43-20-3-40-76-106 (most recent first).
Greens in Regulation
Rankings of past Six winners at Doha GC have been 24-50-16-26-30-7 (most recent first).
Scrambling
Rankings of past Four winners at Doha GC have been 33-13-9-7 (most recent first).
Putts Per GIR
Rankings of past Six winners at Doha GC have been 15-10-9-15-5-2 (most recent first).
Qatar Masters In-Play Tips
Tough Holes
The 3rd, 12th and the 13th played as the three toughest holes in 2022 so beware when betting in play.
Birdie Holes
The driveable par 4 16th played as the easiest in 2022 followed by the four par 5s.
Fast or Slow Start
Much can depend on the weather. Ferguson was in T6th after round one and the previous two champions at Doha GC had been inside the top 3 after the opening round. However, the two champions before that were all outside the top 20.
Ferguson won from three shots back in the final round last year, as did Harding in 2019. Comebacks are possible here.
Closing stretch
The 16th and 18th were the two easiest holes on the course in 2022.
2023 Qatar Masters Tips
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In-play
Qatar Masters In-Play Blog
28 October 2023, 6:00pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Campillo (through 17) |
-16 |
| Valimaki |
-15 |
| MacIntyre (through 16) |
-14 |
| Crocker |
-13 |
| Jamieson |
-13 |
| Elvira |
-13 |
| Aiken (through 17) |
-13 |
| Six players tied |
-11 |
2023 Qatar Masters Round 3 Summary
Fading light once again defeated the players, with several yet to complete round three. A costly double bogey at the 15th hole cost Robert MacIntyre a share of the overnight lead. Jorge Campillo was flawless during his seventeen holes played today and will have a chance to extend his lead further when he comes back to the course in the morning to play his closing hole of round three.
2023 Qatar Masters Round 4 Weather
Sunny and warm. Wind 6-9mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Jorge Campillo has taken over as 13/8 favourite as he aims to win this event for the second time. Although it should be noted that any positive mental associations with that first win may be diminished by the fact that it came at Education City GC, rather than Doha GC.
The Spaniard's recent contention record is an odd one. When leading through three rounds he has been excellent, converting his last two 54 hole leads and performing well to finish runner up in his previous two efforts. However, his wins aside, he's failed to improve his position when inside the top 10 going into the final round in eight of his last nine attempts.
Odds of 13/8 are a little short in our eyes given he has some proven winners in his rear view mirror. Add in the fact he will have to come back to the course early to finish his third round and it could well be a long day for the leader.
In-Play Qatar Masters Bets We Considered
Scott Jamieson has all but secured his playing privileges for next year and he could well surprise with a low round tomorrow. A win would be the icing on the cake for a fantastic week and it will somewhat feel like a free roll of the dice. However, we have selected two others from off the pace for subscribers.
Qatar Masters Round 4 Bets
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27 October 2023, 6:05pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Aiken |
-10 |
| Tarrio (through 12) |
-10 |
| Hillier (through 10) |
-10 |
| Molinari (through 11) |
-9 |
| Ferguson (through 9) |
-9 |
| MacIntyre (through 9) |
-9 |
| Six players tied |
-8 |
2023 Qatar Masters Round 2 Summary
Round two afternoon starters didn't manage to finish and top of the leaderboard could well change once players come back to the course tomorrow morning. Thomas Aiken finds himself in a share of the overnight lead but those out in the morning should score well and the lead could well be -12 or better by the end of round two.
2023 Qatar Masters Round 3 Weather
Sunny and Warm. Wind 5-8mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Robert MacIntyre (4/1) marginally edges favouritism ahead of Ewen Ferguson (9/2) and Daniel Hillier (5/1). We indicated that all three players were fancied to go well in yesterday's blog and all three have shortened from yesterday's 8/1. There really isn't much to separate the three players at this stage, especially considering Ferguson has a 22ft putt for eagle when play resumes in the morning, whilst Hillier has a 9ft birdie putt. Our preference would be to let the second round play our before reassessing.
In-Play Qatar Masters Bets We Considered
Unfortunately there are no two or three ball options with the second round yet to be completed. Edoardo Molinari was the player that caught our eye from a price perspective. The veteran Italian can be backed at 33/1 generally with seven holes remaining of his second round.
Qatar Masters Round 3 Bets
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26 October 2023, 6:25pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Jamieson |
-7 |
| Hillier |
-7 |
| Ferguson |
-6 |
| MacIntyre |
-6 |
| Gallacher |
-6 |
| Tarrio |
-6 |
| Seven players tied |
-5 |
2023 Qatar Masters Round 1 Summary
There was a big draw bias today as the morning starters enjoyed calmer conditions, whilst threat of thunder and high winds stopped play for the afternoon starters. The best placed afternoon starters have only played nine holes of round one - Jordan Smith in particular looking threatening on 3 under par.
2023 Qatar Masters Round 2 Weather
Sunny and Warm. Wind 15-25mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
There's not much to separate the front three in the marker, with Robert MacIntyre, Daniel Hillier and Ewen Ferguson all around the 8/1 mark. All three are established winners on tour and look to have the best of the draw as they will play most of their second round in the calmer Saturday morning conditions. We have to expect a strong challenge from this group.
In-Play Qatar Masters Bets We Considered
We considered Jayden Schaper each way at 300/1. Schaper is currently one under par through eleven holes and tees off his second round just after 9am, so should avoid the worst of the winds tomorrow. He produced a great run of results earlier this season with top 10's in South Africa and Mauritius - the later could be an excellent indication he is suited to the wind exposed Doha venue.
Qatar Masters Round 2 Bets
Want to know which bets we went for? You can sign up for all our DP World Tour tips for 2023 by clicking the button below.
