BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Sunday night’s pelting rain and accompanying strong winds sent most scurrying for cover at the Doha Golf Club but for Spain’s Sergio Garcia the changing weather patterns seem to have played into his hands.
Garcia, the defending champion at this week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, said he is looking forward to a compelling challenge at the 7,374-yard course that got drenched during the unexpected heavy downpour forcing a massive dip in mercury yesterday.
“I like the wind. I obviously enjoy playing the wind,” Garcia, 35, said yesterday.
“It (the wind) asks you to do a lot more on the course. You just got to deal with the best way possible. For some it is going to be a little tougher than others. It definitely makes the course more challenging,” Garcia added.
“Yes, obviously the wind does effect the play. It becomes much tougher to control the ball flight and the distances. But obviously it is something that is not new here in Qatar and we play outside (and) sometimes we get windy days,” the Spaniard explained.
Last year, Garcia beat Mikko Ilonen in a thrilling play-off battle to start the 2014 season with a win.
“It feels great, obviously,” Garcia said about his arrival as the defending champion. “It is my first event of the year. It is an event I look forward to every year. I want to do well here,” he added.
Garcia, who hasn’t played active golf since mid-December, said he has hit enough balls to feel confident going into his first event of the new season.
“Preparations have been good. I have been practicing at home,” Garcia said.
“You know it’s the first week and obviously there’s a bit of a question mark but I am excited about it. Obviously it is a tournament I really enjoy playing and I have done well before. I am excited to be here.
“I will keep myself in the best possible opportunity to do well. We will see how it goes,” Garcia said. Garcia said there was no pressure going into the event as the defending champion.
“Honestly the great thing about it (starting as defending champion) is that you have done really well. It is nice to win a tournament you like. It is always a positive. Every year you start from scratch,” Garcia said.
For the 35-year-old Spaniard, the goal in 2015 is to keep playing well.
“(I want to) just to keep going in the right direction and trying to keep improving like I have been doing the last three-four years,” Garcia said. “Last year was a very consistent year for me. I played well for most of the year. I would like to play in same lines like last year,” he added.
Chris Meyers, the General Manager at Doha Golf Club, said Sunday rain caused a bit of a concern for the staff managing the greens.
“We are playing outdoor golf course so it gets effected by strong winds,” Meyers said. “What it does it does to us (organisers) is that we have to keep an eye on the speed of greens in case the winds do get light. Otherwise the course can become unplayable (because of the strong winds),” he added.
THE PENINSULA
