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Stenson takes aim
Defending champion Henrik Stenson will aim to do what no other golfer has done in nine years of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters tomorrow (Thursday) when he tees up in an all-star cast in the USD 2.2 million tournament. Played over the challenging 7,355-yard Doha Golf Club, the Commercialbank Qatar Masters will see Stenson face Major winners, Ryder Cup stars and several of the world's top twenty players. As if that wasn't tough enough, Stenson is also well aware that no player has ever won the gleaming oyster shell trophy twice, never mind successfully defend it.

'I know this tournament hasn't been defended yet so obviously it would be a very good thing to do,' said Stenson, the world number twelve. 'I've had some really good success here the last two years being second and first so anything close to that would obviously be a great week.'

The Swede's rise to prominence over the past two years has seen him become a regular at the sharp end of leader boards, sink the winning putt at The Ryder Cup at the K Club and be described by last year's Commercialbank Qatar Masters runner-up Paul Broadhurst as 'the next big thing in Europe.'

'It's one of the nicest things when your colleagues say good things about your game,' smiled the unflappable Swede. 'But we have a very strong field at this tournament, a lot of really good players.

'To be able to defend will take some really good golfing on my behalf, but the course is suiting me pretty well and even the tough conditions you get here in Qatar suits my golf as I've had a lot of good tournaments in the past in tricky conditions.'

Now several rungs up the quality ladder from previous incarnations, the tenth Commercialbank Qatar Masters has attracted a stellar field. Among those taking to the course today (Wednesday) in the pre-event Pro Am were Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Stuart Appleby, Michael Campbell, Darren Clarke and the man in form, Paul Casey.

'I'm raring to go again,' said Casey just three days after winning the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. 'I'm tired but I'm looking forward to it. This is a ball-striker's golf course and I didn?t strike it well today so that's going to have to be sorted out before tomorrow. But I have an early round and if the wind is calm then maybe I can post a decent round in the morning.'

Casey's win in Abu Dhabi moved him one point in the world rankings to number thirteen and keeps him on track for a place in the world's top ten.

'That's one target and if I can keep playing golf like I did last week then hopefully I'll get into that top ten,' he added. 'But we've got an excellent field here so I'm going to have to play very, very good golf to get myself in contention on Sunday.'

Ulsterman Clarke was in full agreement. 'The course is very tough but it's in fantastic shape and we're going to have to play very well to put some good scores in,' said Clarke.

More information on the Commercialbank Qatar Masters 2007 is available at the official website www.qatar-masters.com

on 2007-01-24