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| Alvaro Quiros is one of the longest hitters on the professional circuit with an average driving distance of 312.69 yards in 2011 |
The Doha Golf Club has added more yardage to its Peter Harradine designed course in a bid to make life difficult for players – but try telling that to Alvaro Quiros.
“Really, wow, that’s good news, suits me fine,” the Spanish golf star told journalists at a promotional event held by Swiss watchmaker Concord for which he is a brand ambassador.
“The longer, the better,” added the 29-year-old, unable to hide his glee and probably already fancying himself as a winner once again at the European Tour’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters beginning tomorrow.
Quiros’s confidence, which was a bit low after he failed to progress beyond the halfway stage in Abu Dhabi last week, has already taken a leap after it was revealed that the course will be at its lengthiest this time in the 15-year history of the tournament.
Already one of the longest par 72 courses on the professional circuit, it has been stretched to 7,400 yards this time – a challenge Quiros is relishing for obvious reasons.
With a game that is based on a monstrous drive that sent the ball flying 312.69 yards on an average last year – John Daly, aka Long John, has a lifetime driving distance average of 309.4 yards and Tiger Woods is still struggling to get his drive past the 300-yard mark following his troubles over the past three years – Quiros has established himself as a serious contender at every tournament he plays in.
The Spaniard has won six titles since joining the European Tour in 2007, and unsurprisingly three of his victories have come in the region where lengthy courses are a norm, although he failed in his attempt to become the first golfer to win all four European Tour events in the Gulf by missing the cut in Abu Dhabi last week.
At the Emirates Golf Club last February, his long hits came in handy when he recorded a spectacular hole-in-one on his way to victory in the Dubai Desert Classic, and later that year won the season-ending Dubai World Championship with a mammoth eagle putt on the final hole for a career-best $1.2mn pay cheque.
But it’s not just the distance that he is capable of achieving he is enthused about. Quiros said his chances in Qatar, where he won in 2009 and was runner-up in 2010 and 2011, have been also boosted by the windy conditions likely to prevail this week.
“It’s never calm here. The weather is good and very windy. Doha is one of my favourite places. The people make me feel welcome and I feel very comfy here,” said Quiros.
The World No. 21, however, is well aware of the fact that he is yet to find his rhythm after the off-season.
“I had a lengthy break. Normally I manage to put in a bit of practice during the off-season, but this time I took it easy and was therefore a bit rusty last week in Abu Dhabi.
“However, I am slowly getting into my groove and with the long course and windy weather expected, who knows?” Indeed. In golf, you never know.