The International Swing reaches its midway point as the Qatar Masters returns for its 29th edition in Doha.
500 up for Harrington
This week sees some DP World Tour royalty reach a momentous landmark as Pádraig Harrington becomes the 50th player to tee it up 500 times. From his first start at the 1995 Smurfit European Open to this week at Doha Golf Club he has played in 33 different countries, winning in ten of them, and racked up three Major Championship victories along the way. His 15 wins make him the most successful Irish golfer in history and as he plays his fourth consecutive week at 54 years of age, the three-time Senior Major winner shows no sign of slowing down. Keep your eyes across DP World Tour broadcast, socials and website this week for all things Harrington.
This week sees the 29th consecutive edition of the Qatar Masters since its inaugural edition and eight previous champions tee it up looking to win the Mother of Pearl Trophy for a second time.
Darren Fichardt lifted it way back in 2003 and his incredible longevity means he is in the field this week having finished in the top 116 on the Race to Dubai last season, the same season he won his first Legends Tour event and came second at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.
Champion from 2013 Chris Wood is currently without status on Tour but is on the comeback trail after winning his last start on the MENA Golf Tour and 2018 winner Eddie Pepperell is also on a comeback of sorts after regaining his card at last year's Qualifying School.
Justin Harding is looking for his first victory in nearly five years while Jorge Campillo, Antoine Rozner and Ewen Ferguson are all seeking a fourth DP World Tour win this week. Rikuya Hoshino, our champion from 2024, returns to the scene of his sole DP World Tour win after spending last season as a dual member with the PGA TOUR.
Inside the field
The battle at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World is set to intensify this week with a host of players at the top end of the standings teeing up. Leader Jayden Schaper - already a two-time winner this term - is looking to continue his remarkable form and he is joined by nearest challenger Patrick Reed after the 2018 Masters champion recently added a Rolex Series win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic to his CV.
Andy Sullivan, Julien Guerrier, Daniel Hillier and Nacho Elvira will all also be looking to continue their impressive starts to the season.
International Swing hits midway point
With three events completed and three more to come after this week, our stop in Qatar, our last trip to the Middle East before the DP World Tour Play-Offs, represents the midway point in the International Swing.
Unsurprisingly our three winners so far top the Rankings but with an enhanced-points victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and a play-off loss in Bahrain, it is Patrick Reed who leads that pack.
The winner of the International Swing will gain entry into every event in Phase Two of the season - the Back 9 - while also securing a US$200,000 bonus, with a spot at the Genesis Scottish Open also available to the highest player in the Rankings not already exempt.
Doha Golf Club goes from strength to strength
This week's host has staged this event in 26 of its 28 editions, becoming a regular and popular stop for our players.
Things may look a little different this year, however, with several new and upgraded tee complexes across the course - notably at the first, sixth, eighth, 13th and 15th - allowing greater flexibility in set-up while enhancing turf quality and visual definition.
These improvements support a more strategic test for players while ensuring consistency across all tournament rounds. Operating in a desert environment, sustainability is a core part of how the course is managed and Doha Golf Club utilises warm-season turfgrasses selected specifically for heat tolerance, reduced water demand and long-term durability.
Irrigation practices are closely monitored and data-driven, ensuring water is applied efficiently and only where required, while ongoing soil health programmes help minimise inputs without compromising performance.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus
