The 2014 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters confirms that towering Englishman Chris Wood will return to defend his title at the 17th edition of the tournament, which will be held at Doha Golf Club from January 22 to 25, 2014.
The six-foot five-inch Wood produced a spectacular finish to claim his first European Tour title last January, sinking a pressure-packed, 12-foot eagle putt on the 18th to beat Spanish legend Sergio Garcia and South African George Coetzee by one stroke.
Hassan al-Nuaimi, president of the Qatar Golf Association, said: “We are delighted to confirm that Chris Wood will be back to defend his title at the 17th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club.
“Chris was a very popular winner last year and we all know how much he wanted his well-deserved first European Tour victory. Furthermore, he earned it in the most dramatic way, with an eagle on the final hole, which gave us one of the most exciting finishes in the tournament since it began in 1998. We will soon be confirming more star players who will all aim to challenge Chris for the Mother of Pearl Trophy next month.”
Wood, who led by three after the third round, claimed victory in Doha with an 18 under par total of 270. After sinking the winning putt, the usually mild-mannered Englishman punched the air in delight after ending years of frustration following 19 top-tens on The European Tour, including three runner-up finishes since 2011.
Currently ranked 74th in the Official World Golf Ranking, the Bristol-born golfer also reached the quarter-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria, finished joint-seventh at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland and represented England at the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf in Australia.
Day tickets and season tickets for the 2014 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters are available to purchase online at www.virginmegastore.me and in-store from Virgin Megastore shops in Villaggio Mall and Landmark Mall, Doha, as well as Doha Golf Club.
For those looking for an extra-special experience, event hospitality packages are available through the tournament’s official website, www.qatar-masters.com