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CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 TTENNISENNIS | Page 6 ‘Slack’ over Svitolina rates cost Aus crashes out WTC fi nal spot: as ‘fi ery’ Gauff Langer reaches last 16 Wednesday, March 10, 2021 FOOTBALL Rajab 26, 1442 AH Neymar not fi t for GULF TIMES PSG’s Barcelona showdown SPORT Page 2 COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS ‘Diff erent’ Qatar Masters ‘We are very proud to be here... It is indeed diff icult for the players and everybody to returns to ECGC ensure that they stay within the bubble’ By Yash Mudgal Doha FOCUS fter a wait of more than a month, the European Vodafone’s GigaNet Tour’s Race to Dubai continues this week Aat the Commercial Bank Qatar network to power Masters as the event returns to the Education City Golf Club (ECGC) for a second time follow- Qatar Masters venue ing its successful debut in 2020, where Jorge Campillo defeated David Drysdale in a dramatic play-off . Apart from Campillo, former champions Spaniard Alvaro Quiros (2009), Englishmen Ed- die Pepperell (2018) and Chris Wood (2013), South African Jus- tin Harding (2019) and 139 other golfers are all set for the 24th edi- tion of the tournament. Qatar Open Amateur Cham- pionship winner Ali al-Shahrani, European Tour tournament director Mikael Ericsson (left), Commercial Bank’s EGM, Chief Marketing Off icer, Hussein al-Abdulla (second from Saleh al-Kaabi, who fi nished a left), QGA President Hassan al-Naimi (third from left), General Secretary Fahad al-Naimi (centre) and ECGC General Manager Michael Braidwood joint second, and Juhaim al-Ku- (third from right) during a press conference yesterday. wari will represent Qatar in the odafone Qatar contin- the European Tour Calendar, tournament. Al-Shahrani be- tion City Golf Club. We are very course, which is designed by last year we had over 400 million ues to display its role as attracting the world’s top golf came only the second Qatari to proud to be here and be a part of two-time Masters Champion people watched over TV from Van important technol- talent. There are 144 competi- win the amateur tournament in the Qatar Masters,” the European Jose Maria Olazabal. around the world. Top-notch ogy partner supporting the tors from 33 countries at this its 35-year-old history. Tour tournament director Mikael “Let’s not forget we have a players are coming in Qatar to country’s sports sector as the year’s tournament, competing The $1.5mn event is being held Ericsson said at a pre-event press great golf course out there that play in this prestigious event. Off icial Communications Part- for a USD 1.5mn prize fund. from March 11-14 for the famous conference yesterday. has been in immaculate condi- We look forward to support this ner of the Commercial Bank Communications infrastruc- Mother of Pearl Trophy at the “It is indeed diffi cult for the tion. We are looking forward to amazing tournament as it also Qatar Masters for the second ture that can deliver the ECGC, where the conditions are players and everybody has to take the golfers to play in the event to serves Qatar 2030 vision,” al- year in a row. capacity and speeds of the expected to be challenging. a couple of steps and ensure that be broadcast to over 500 million Abdulla said. As part of the sponsorship, Vo- Vodafone network has become The last European Tour event they stay within the ‘bubble’. But households this week. Hopefully QGA President Hassan al- dafone’s GigaNet network will increasingly important to – Saudi International – was held with the support of everybody in it’ll go smooth and everybody Naimi and General Secretary Fa- power the tournament venue enhance the overall experi- from February 3-7. this country, it has been easy in a will be happy,” Ericsson said. had al-Naimi, who were present – Education City Golf Club – ence of live sporting events. The highly-anticipated event way and we thank everybody,” he Commercial Bank’s EGM, Chief in the press conference said 2000 with both fibre and mobile Vodafone’s advanced network is being organised by Qatar Golf said. Marketing Offi cer, Hussein al- spectators are allowed for tour- coverage, including 5G, giving that has recently undergone Association (QGA), the Qatar Ol- “It might look easy from the Abdulla off ered their unfl inching nament. the organisers, players and significant enhancements is ympic Committee (QOC), Edu- outside but we are actually 144 support to the tournament. ECGC General Manager spectators the crucial seam- playing a vital role in many of cation City Golf Club and long- players and 144 caddies, staff , “We have been the title spon- Michael Braidwood acknowl- less connectivity needed. This the country’s highly success- term title sponsor, Commercial television people etc. So it is like sors of the tournament for many edged Qatar Masters’ role in at- connectivity will also enable ful local and international Bank under strict health proto- 500 people so the bubble gets years. We have been hosting this tracting more people to golf. the live TV broadcasting of the sporting events, most recently cols as prescribed by the Qatar’s quite big so there has be to be re- for many years now. The direc- “I’m really glad with the devel- tournament around the world. at His Highness The Amir Ministry of Public Health due the The Mother of Pearl trophy for strictions in place.” tion of the leadership of the QGA opment and growth of the sport Taking place from March 11-14, Sword Competition 2021 and Covid-19 pandemic. All the play- Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Ericsson also said it is diffi cult has been tremendous. We try our here in Qatar. Last year we had the Qatar Masters, now in its inaugural Katara International ers, caddies, offi cials along with for players to operate in a bubble. best to support and complement a number of acquisitions dur- 24th year, is a major feature on Arabian Horse Festival. the media production team of the normal times and we are really “It is diffi cult for the players the QGA in its pursuit to educate ing the event for schoolchildren, European Tour will be operating thankful to Qatar Golf Association as we are operating in a bubble. and promote golf to our locals initiatives to draw youngsters to from the ‘bio bubble’ before and for what they have done to be able Everybody has to do a couple of and specially our Qatari golfers. the golf course. We’ve seen fami- When we opened ECGC we were now with support of Commercial during the event. to play here this year. Thanks also Covid tests,” he said. The other side is the Qatar Mas- lies coming to the golf course at keen to draw more people to golf Bank that has happened,” Braid- “It’s really diff erent from the to Commercial Bank and Educa- He also lauded the par-71 ters has become a major event as the club, a lot of kids are coming. and had the right partner and wood said. SPOTLIGHT Drysdale inspired by Westwood ahead of Qatar Masters return avid Drysdale, run- Ryder Cup appearances and I’m play at last year’s event, but the ous years, I’ve been out here for ner-up in last year’s sure he’ll make an 11th his year. pair fi nished level on 13 under par almost 20, that if I hang my boots Commercial Bank Qatar It’s nice to see, if I keep fi t and after the Spaniard dropped three up having not won on the Euro- Masters, is taking in- injury free, there might be a few strokes on the closing stretch. pean Tour, I’d be bitterly disap- Dspiration from Lee Westwood as more years in me yet. The 45-year-old was denied pointed – but it would still be he hopes to go one better at Edu- “I’m still trying hard to win. a maiden European Tour vic- a career to look back on and be cation City Golf Club this week. That’s the main goal – the rea- tory thanks to some incredible proud of. The Scotsman, who was son I practice and keep going. putting from Campillo on the “I’ve got some great memo- beaten to second place by Jorge Last year here was a great op- fi ve extra holes, holing from more ries from last year. It’s hard to say Campillo in Doha last year af- portunity, and those opportuni- than 20 feet on three occasions. where my game is at the moment ter a thrilling fi ve-hole play-off , ties haven’t come along as much “I won a couple of Challenge because I’ve had a month off – watched Westwood fi nish second as I’d have liked in my career, but Tour events a while ago, but last but I didn’t have much form go- to Bryson DeChambeau at the I’m trying to get in that position year if it wasn’t for Jorge Camp- ing into this week last year. Arnold Palmer Invitational over again. I know I can hit some good illo’s ridiculous putting I might “The golf course suits my eye. the weekend, the Englishman golf shots under pressure. The have had one on the European I’ve been out on the range and once again proving that age is just plan is to practice and give myself Tour – hats off to him but I also I’ve been on the chipping and a number.