The Doha Golf Club (DGC) will host an Asian Tour golf event after 16 years with the inaugural edition of the International Series - Qatar to be held from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th February, 2023.
The path-breaking series was launched last year with seven events, with three more legs added this year as Doha makes its debut offering $2.5 m in prize money.
The third leg of the 2023 Asian Tour and the second leg of the Asian Tour’s International Series has attracted top names including South Africa’s Justin Harding and Charl Schwartzel.
Harding will be hoping for an encore at a course where he won his maiden European title – the 2019 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, while Schwartzel is a former major winner.
Meanwhile, Asian Tour Chief Operating Officer David Rollo expressed his delight on the partnership with QGA and hoped Qatar would be a great addition to the prestigious series. ‘We’re really excited to be here. It’s a great destination. We’ve obviously seen the success of events here previously. We want to be in world class destinations. Everyone in sport enjoyed the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 last year. So it’s great to come back to a destination with such a rich sporting heritage,’ said Rollo.
With forecasts suggesting strong winds at the weekend, General Manager DGC Gary McGlinchey said, ‘The Peter Harradine designed course will pose a tricky challenge for the golfers.’
‘The Doha Golf Club course is in great shape. We had new greens two years ago. Some of these players will be playing for the first time at Doha Golf Club. We’ve had a lot of rain. So the course is a little bit softer than normal,’ said McGlinchey.
‘The forecast for the weekend is lots of wind. So my prediction I think the golf course will play tough. The greens will be fast and with the wind, I think the winning score will be under maybe less than ten under par. But we’ll see. I’m looking forward to it. And I’m sure someone’s going to be very happy,’ he added.
Dubai based players in the field include Shiv Kapur (Ind), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) and MG Keyser (RSA), with MG representing Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Shiv tees off at 11.40 am, Jeev at 11.10 am and MG at 6.50 am in tomorrow’s first round (All times are Qatar local time).
In addition, there is a strong regional representation from Professionals: Othman Almulla (KSA), Saud Alsharif (KSA), Faisal Salhab (KSA), Shergo Al Kurdi (Jor), Ayoub Lguirati (Mor), as well as Amateurs: Saleh Alkaabi (Qat), Jaham Al Kuwari (Qat), El Mehdi Fakori (Mor), Adam Bresnu (Mor), Issa Abouelela (Egy), Elyes Barhoumi (Tun) and Azzan Al Rumhy (Oman).
The International Series – Qatar can be watched LIVE on Dubai Sports Channel as below:
Thursday 16th Feb: From 2 pm
Friday 17th Feb: From 2 pm
Saturday 18th Feb: From 1 pm
Sunday 19th Feb: From 12 noon
