Eddie Pepperell hopes to find “Mini-Me” to win the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters’ Mother of Pearl Trophy he lifted two years back in Doha.
Though for that he has to brave the windy conditions once again on a new challenging course.
In 2018 the Englishman won his maiden European Tour title at the Doha Golf Club, but this time the event has moved across the Qatari capital to the Education City Golf Club (ECGC) — a landmark project for Qatar and the world of golf that offers a revolutionary and holistic approach to growing the game — for its 23rd edition.
“Landed in Doha. Haven’t been back here since I won and not only do I want another bicep tear, I also want another Mini-Me,” Pepperell tweeted on Tuesday.
In his first start at The Players Championship in 2019, Pepperell closed with seven birdies in his last 12 holes to post a final-round six-under 66 to finish at 14-under (T3), two shots behind winner Rory McIlroy, marking his best finish in first nine PGA Tour starts.
Pepperell is back in Doha after a gap of one year and feels a good week of golf in Qatar after missing the Oman Open due to Coronavirus fears will boost his chances of qualifying for WGC Matchplay.
“I tweeted yesterday about my underlying fear of coronavirus and being quarantined somewhere for two weeks. That was the reason I didn’t travel last week. The outbreak in Italy concerned me, and whilst it’s now even more widespread, I would have a long break if I don’t play this week,” Pepperell said. 
“I’m here to give myself a shot at qualifying for the WGC Matchplay which will be my only route into The Masters. It’s a risk I felt worth taking — WGC-Matchplay and will need a good week this week to enable me to do that.”
Commenting over challenges at the new course, he said: “I arrived last night and have just played in the Pro-Am this morning so I’m maybe not the best person to ask, but on the whole, I like it. It’s not dissimilar to Doha Golf Club albeit there is a bit more definition. A bit like my new abs. Whilst it looks as if it will drop tomorrow, the wind looks as if it will be the main challenge, which it often is here in Qatar.”
Pepperell’s best world ranking was 32 and after finishing tied 11 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, at present he is 63rd in the world ranking.
“My goal in Dubai was to make the cut, have missed the previous two. I played much better there and I feel as if my swing is in a good place which it wasn’t for the first two events of the season,” the 29-year-old said.
The Englishman enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2018 when, in his sixth season on the European Tour, he won his first title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters before following that up with a second victory later in the year at the Sky Sports British Masters. He bounced back from the disappointment of 2016, where he needed to return to Qualifying School to regain his European Tour privileges, to enjoy a strong 2017 campaign.
Talking about his plans, he said he doesn’t believe in long term goals.
“I don’t really focus on long term goals and concentrate as much as I can on improving my skill set and consistency. I know if I do that, I should in theory improve my chances of playing well. If I play well, I will get back into the top 50,” Pepperrell, who ended 2019 at World No 52, said.
Pepperell will start the round with Frenchmen Bejamin Hebert and Mike Lorenzo at 7:15am.