Doha: World No.11 Sergio Garcia and his two young Team Qatar partners won the inaugural nine-hole Commercial Bank Challenge Match, which featured three of the world’s top golfers and six Qatari teenagers, ahead of this week’s $2.5 million (Dh9.18 million) Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
World No.3 Henrik Stenson, who topped the 2013 Race to Dubai, and World No.13 Jason Dufner, the reigning PGA Championship winner, also captained teams at Doha Golf Club.
Garcia’s group — which also included 15-year-old Sami Al Qush and 13-year-old Abdul Rahman Al Naimi — won the Texas Scramble format event with a score of five-under 67.
“It was very good. I thought they played very nicely — very impressive. They hit the ball quite well and had a good attitude. I think they had a good time and enjoyed it,” said Garcia, a 10-time European Tour winner and six-time Ryder Cup participant.
“He made the most putts for birdie,” added the Spaniard, pointing at Al Naimi.
Al Qush said it was a thrill to play nine holes with one of the world’s most famous players. “It has been a great honour to play with Sergio Garcia, one of the top pros in the world.
“I really enjoyed playing with him. He gave me some tips and some facts about golf, gave me some advice about my swing and about the short game, how to do a chip and run. I did really benefit and it’s going to help me in the future. I hope that I’ll be better than him.”
Al Naimi added: “It was a great experience to play with Sergio Garcia and to copy his swing. I’ve seen him on TV, so it was amazing to play with him. I want to try to beat him in the future.”
Dufner, who is playing his second successive Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, believes the Challenge Match offered an inspirational experience for the six youngsters and paid tribute to his playing partners Faisal Mir, 16, and towering 15-year-old Abdullah Khamis.
“My partners did great — they carried me. I think I only had to putt once, which is nice for me. I hit some good shots for them and we had a good time,” said Dufner, who won his first major at the PGA Championship last August.
“I think as pros we love doing these types of things. At some point in our golfing career, we were where these kids are. When I was their age, I know I was dying to be out there playing with the best players in the world. It’s a neat experience for them and a neat experience for us.
“I like the fact The European Tour hits all these different parts of Asia, the Middle East, South Africa and so on, helping to expand the game of golf and inspiring a lot of juniors to play.”
As well as Stenson, Garcia and Dufner, four-time major winner Ernie Els and former World No.1s Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer are among the field at the 17th edition of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday.
