FORMULA 1 | Page 4 NBA | Page 8 Ecclestone’s Heat stun To Advertise here exit marks Warriors, Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 end of an era Cavs fall for Formula 1 to Pelicans Wednesday, January 25, 2017 FOOTBALL Rabia II 27, 1438 AH Injury-hit GULF TIMES Real wait on Ronaldo for comeback SPORT Page 4 FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Wood hopes Offi cials celebrate to repeat his landmark 20th 2013 title feat edition of CBQM Now broadcast to an audience of 400 million and attracting 25,000 spectators each year, 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 By Yash Mudgal contention. You know, one shot, Doha one putt missed here or there can make all the diff erence…” “It’s hard to explain until hris Wood has set his you’ve been in that position, sights on reclaiming but it really is the reason that the Mother of Pearl we play; the pressure that you trophy in the 20th edi- put yourself under trying to Ction of the Commercial Bank win a tournament, trying to Qatar Masters. fi nish a tournament off . It’s like “Every year I come back here, something I’ve never experi- I sort of feel like I’m going to give enced week-in and week-out, (From left) Qatar Golf Association Executive Director Mohamed Faisal al-Naimi, Nick Tarratt (Director of International Off ice, European Tour), QGA General Secretary Fahad Nasser myself a chance, just because of really,” Wood added. al-Naimi, Commercial Bank CEO Joseph Abraham and Gary McGlinchey (Tournament Manager) at the pre-event press conference at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram the memories that I have here. After winning further Eu- I always love coming back,” the ropean Tour titles at the 2015 By Sports Reporter went from one to two events in 1998 with 29-year-old Wood, who won Lyoness Open in Austria and Doha the Qatar Masters. However, it was a very his fi rst European Tour title at last year’s BMW PGA Champi- diff erent Qatar Masters and a very diff erent the 2013 Qatar Masters in bril- onship in England, Wood fi n- Doha in those days,” said Tarratt, who has liant fashion with a last-hole ished fourth on the Ryder Cup eading offi cials involved in the been working in the region for over 27 years eagle, said yesterday. European points list last year Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and with the European Tour for eight years. His victory was followed by a to secure a fi rst appearance in gathered yesterday to honour the “In 2006, it became a three-event tie for 43rd in 2014 and a missed the biennial team competition Lhistoric 20th edition of the long- ‘Desert Swing’ with Abu Dhabi, and Qatar cut last January. He skipped the against Team USA. standing European Tour event. now fi ts nicely in the middle of the series. 2015 event due to injury. “It will feel good to compete Now broadcast to an audience of 400mn The Qatar Masters has always stood out for The 25-year-old from Bris- here in my fi rst full season after and attracting 25,000 spectators each year, its quality fi eld, quality golf course, quality tol rates his fi rst title in 2013 playing at the Ryder Cup be- the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has de- facilities, good weather and Qatari hospi- as perhaps the best moment of cause I would like to keep play- veloped beyond recognition since its inau- tality. The players are always well looked his glittering career. “My win ing well enough to make the guration in 1998, when it helped form a two- after,” he added. at the 2013 Qatar Masters is 2018 team,” he said. leg Desert Swing on the European Tour. It McGlinchey added: “I also think the still one of the highlights of my Discussing the success of now sits at the heart of a three-stop stretch, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is really a career. It was pretty emotional big hitters in Doha, he said: “I fl anked by events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. great opportunity for junior golfers to get to fi nally win my fi rst European wouldn’t consider myself one Major winners Ernie Els, Henrik Sten- close and see the best golfers in the world Tour title after what felt like of the very longest but I’m long son, Adam Scott, Retief Goosen and Paul in action, and understand they can become many years,” Wood, the only enough. So yeah, clearly it’s Lawrie, and Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio professionals as a career path. Englishman to lift the Mother suited to my game. I think I can Garcia and Thomas Bjørn are among the “Clarke Lutton was the Doha Golf Club of Pearl trophy, said. reach all the par 5s here, apart stars to have lifted the historic Mother of junior champion and club champion, and He also got nostalgic talking from the ninth, which maybe Pearl trophy at Doha Golf Club, the tour- now he’s playing in the Commercial Bank about his fi st title win: “Yeah, only one or two guys can reach nament’s sole host venue. Qatar Masters, so having the Qatar Masters this is the scene of my fi rst win in two. But you know, clearly Els won on his tournament debut in 2005 gives children a career path. We have three on the European Tour in 2013 I’ve won here before, so there’s and a year later Commercial Bank began Qatari golfers playing this week. In 1998, here. I don’t know where time every chance again this week,” its title sponsorship of an event that has these guys were young kids.” goes, four years ago now… But the 6-foot-6 inch golfer said. grown to become one of the most popular “I think that’s the beauty of having the every year I come back here, I al- The Englishman missed the on the European Tour. Qatar Masters here in Doha, because peo- ways sort of remember the shots cut last week in Abu Dhabi Joseph Abraham, Chief Executive Of- ple can get so close to the players. I know we I hit and the fi nish in particular. despite a solid second-round fi cer of Commercial Bank, said: “This year have 25,000 people here all week watching Eagling the last to beat one of my 68. “I was probably mentally marks Commercial Bank’s 12th year as ti- it, but in the same kind of event in the US or sort of childhood heroes, Sergio quite rusty on the fi rst day. Let tle sponsor and we are proud to be a long- in Europe, you can’t get close to the play- Garcia, is pretty special. three or four shots go, which standing supporter of this outstanding ers because there are some 100,000 people “It was massive, really. And I wouldn’t necessarily have tournament. It has become a big commu- we welcome to Doha Golf Club each year. (General Secretary) and Mohamed Faisal there. It’s pretty unique in that respect and I think I showed it in my sort of done if it was sort of midway nity event for Qatar.” “We are extremely proud of the growth al-Naimi (Executive Director), and two I think it’s great for the community,” Mc- celebration. I sort of gave eve- through the season. “The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is that this tournament has experienced over more offi cials who were involved in the fi rst Glinchey observed. rything to a fi st pump I could, “But then the second day, I one of the most important events in Qatar’s its two decades, and we have our fellow Qatar Masters in 1998. Els, Lawrie and fellow major winners really, when I holed that eagle felt I was right back on it, and sporting calendar and, most importantly, partners to thank for their support. Gary McGlinchey, Tournament Manager, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell are putt! Yeah, I think obviously I’ve it was an easy 68 for me, really. part of the national vision of Qatar to be- “The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Doha Golf Club, was the club’s head pro in among the players who have returned to come on as a player since then. So even though I missed the cut come an educational sports and cultural would not be what it is without the support 1998 when he competed on an invitation, Qatar to compete in this week’s landmark “Four years is quite a long I came away with a little bit of centre for the Gulf region,” Abraham added. of the Qatar Golf Association, Qatar Olym- while Nick Tarratt, Director of International showdown, which tees off tomorrow. Ry- time. I’ve put myself in conten- confi dence because I’ve never “Now in its landmark 20th edition, the pic Association and Doha Golf Club, which Offi ce, Dubai, European Tour, was then der Cup rookies Rafa Cabrera Bello, Chris tion to win more events since, really done well there. But I Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has become as always will provide a magnifi cent facility General Manager of the UAE Golf Associa- Wood and Andy Sullivan, red-hot Bernd and I have done that. There’s showed enough to feel like my much more than an international golfi ng this week.” tion and helped support ‘behind the ropes’.