Officials celebrate landmark 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

Leading officials involved in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters gathered yesterday to honour the historic 20th edition of the long-standing European Tour event.
The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has developed beyond recognition since its inauguration in 1998, when it helped form a two-leg Desert Swing on the European Tour. It now sits at the heart of a three-stop stretch, flanked by events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Major winners Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, Retief Goosen and Paul Lawrie, and Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn are among the stars to have lifted the historic Mother of Pearl Trophy at Doha Golf Club, the tournament’s sole host venue.
Els won on his tournament debut in 2005 and a year later Commercial Bank began its title sponsorship of an event that has grown to become one of the most popular on the European Tour.
Joseph Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank, said: “This year marks Commercial Bank’s 12th year as title sponsor and we are proud to be a longstanding supporter of this outstanding tournament. It has become a big community event for Qatar.
“The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is one of the most important events in Qatar's sporting calendar and, most importantly, part of the national vision of Qatar to become an educational sports and cultural centre for the Gulf region.
“Now in its landmark 20th edition, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has become much more than an international golfing tournament to everyone involved and most importantly to the thousands of spectators we welcome to Doha Golf Club each year," Abraham said.
“The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters would not be what it is without the support of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), Qatar Olympic Association and Doha Golf Club, which as always will provide a magnificent facility this week,” he said.
Abraham was joined at a press conference by Qatar Golf Association officials Fahad Nasser Al Naimi (General Secretary) and Mohammed Faisal Al Naimi (Executive Director), and two more officials who were involved in the first Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 1998.
 Gary McGlinchey, Tournament Manager, Doha Golf Club, was the club’s head pro in 1998 when he competed on an invitation, while Nick Tarratt, Director of International Office, Dubai, European Tour, was then General Manager of the UAE Golf Association and helped support ‘behind the ropes’.
 “I was involved in running the Dubai Desert Classic and the ‘Desert Swing’ then went from one to two events in 1998 with the Qatar Masters. However, it was a very different Qatar Masters and a very different Doha in those days,” said Tarratt, who has been working in the region for over 27 years and with the European Tour for eight years.
 “In 2006, it became a three-event ‘Desert Swing’ with Abu Dhabi, and Qatar now fits nicely in the middle of the series. The Qatar Masters has always stood out for its quality field, quality golf course, quality facilities, good weather and Qatari hospitality. The players are always well looked after.”
 McGlinchey added: “I also think the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is really a great opportunity for junior golfers to get close and see the best golfers in the world in action, and understand they can become professionals as a career path."
"Clarke Lutton was the Doha Golf Club junior champion and club champion, and now he's playing in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, so having the Qatar Masters gives children a career path. We have three Qatari golfers playing this week. In 1998, these guys were young kids and now they’re all going to play here this week.
The prestigious event has helped establish Qatar as a world-class sporting venue and is considered the country’s annual ‘must-attend’ sporting and social event. Sitting at the heart of The European Tour’s Middle East swing, the tournament attracted over 25,000 spectators in 2016 and was broadcast to a global TV audience of over 400 million.