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Qatar Masters
Course: Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar
Yardage: 7110
Par: 72 (four par-fives)
Greens: Tiff Green 328 overseeded with Poa Trivialis
Past Winners:
2001 - Tony Johnstone
2000 - Rolf Muntz
1999 - Paul Lawrie
1998 - Andrew Coltart
Outright plays (1.5 units unless stated):
Ian Woosnam to win 25/1 e.w. @ Easybets
or Centrebet
Fantastic record in this event. In its four-year history, Woosie has finished
9th, 8th, 2nd and 13th. In somewhat erratic form at the moment, but did finish
6th in Malaysia two weeks ago and looks better value than Clarke at single
figures.
Mathias Gronberg to win 28/1 e.w. @ Sporting Odds
Decent if unspectacular course form with top-30 finishes in each of the last
three years. Finished strong last week to secure a match win and make it two
top-10 (plus one top-20) finish from four starts this season. The Swede has
rarely been this consistent.
Carl Pettersson to win 66/1 e.w. @ TattsBet
The bulky Swede has been a profitable selection in the past few months and it is
rather a surprise to see such odds on him still available. Didn't start the
season in South Africa and Australia as strong as he finished last season, but
after three week's rest he secured yet another top-5 finish with 3rd place last
week. Top-30 last year so he does have course experience as well.
Matchup plays (1.5 units unless stated):
Phillip Price to beat Paul Lawrie -110 @ Bet365
or Surrey
Decent form on the PGA Tour earlier this year and an acclimatizing mid-table
finish last week, Price looks in much better form than Lawrie who missed the cut
in Dubai and has played very little golf this year. The only thing in Lawrie
favor is that he won this title in 1999, but it was Price who was 2nd.
Fredrik Jacobson to beat Rolf Muntz -111 @ Simon Bold
Opposing the unpredictable Muntz who has an excellent record in this event,
including a win in 2000, but has not recorded a top-10 finish in any event for
the last 20 months. He ended a run of three missed cuts with 12th last week and
he will probably perform better than usual in Qatar, but he is not a player who
inspires confidence in him. We have not seen a repeat of the blistering form
that brought three successive top-3 finishes in 2000, but he has become very
consistent and should match his top-15 finish of last year.
Carl Pettersson to beat Rolf Muntz -118 @ BetInternet
[3 units]
Rising star and outright picks against a course specialist, but one who has
continually struggled to secure his Tour card. If Jacobson can beat Muntz, so
will Pettersson with ease.
Mid-point update:
Price/Lawrie Leads by 2
Jacobson/Muntz Trails by 1
Pettersson/Muntz All Square
Woosnam 8th
Gronberg 27th
Pettersson 45th
Thought I had two matchup wins secure when Muntz was +4 after 27
holes ... but he shot 6-under-par for the last 9 holes and finished one under
the cut line 
All to play for over
the weekend, worst-placed Pettersson is only 5 shots out of a top-5 spot.
Final update:
Matchups: 0-3; -6.86 units
Price/Lawrie All Square (ties lose @ Bet365
)
Jacobson/Muntz LOST by 2
Pettersson/Muntz LOST by 6
Outrights: 0-3; -4.50 units
Woosnam 18th
Gronberg 58th
Pettersson 55th
Can't believe that this looked like being a very good tournament in Friday afternoon. Muntz produced a miracle comeback to make the cut and ultimately beat both Jacobson and Pettersson, while Price had lead all week until the very end and the dreaded European tie came into effect. Woosie had always been in contention for a place finish until the last day. Very disappointing blank from the week.
