Qatar Masters Preview, Picks & Analysis

ANTOINE ROZNER holed an incredible 60 foot putt on the last to win his second European Tour title at the the 2021 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and will return to defend his title.

The Frenchman carded a 68 in high winds on day three and entered the final 18 holes at Education City Golf Club three shots off the lead.

In calmer conditions in round four, he hit the top of the leaderboard as he turned in 33, but Guido Migliozzi joined him at the summit as he signed for an impressive bogey free 65.

After leaving himself a long way from the pin on the last, it looked like Rozner needed two putts for a play-off but he drained an incredible double breaker over the ridge to sign for a 67 and finish at eight under.

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar and South African Darren Fichardt finished alongside Migliozzi a shot off the lead, two clear of Welshman Jamie Donaldson and England's Richard McEvoy.

Rozner's victory was his second in six events and came just three months after his maiden win at the Golf in Dubai Championship.

It meant he had recorded two wins in 29 events - making him the fastest French player ever to two victories - with just four missed cuts in an incredible start to his European Tour career since graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2019.

That 2019 campaign brought him back to back wins on the Challenge Tour, and he  moved into the top 70 in the Official World Golf Ranking - a career high.

“Amazing feeling," he said. "Winning a golf tournament is the best feeling in the world so getting it done this way, with such a big putt on the last, I don’t know what to say but in my biggest dreams I wouldn’t have thought of anything like this. Crazy run today.

"Winning a golf tournament is so rare - to win twice in just a few months is unreal. I’m just very happy with the way I got it done today in such a dramatic fashion, it’s amazing. I’m very happy.

"I was just trying to hit a good putt. I knew two putts would be very important, I tried to get a good speed first. I thought I had a good read on it, then 15 feet short I was like ‘oh, this is going to have a chance’. I kept looking at it and it went straight in the hole - the best putt of my career."

Rozner would be the first to admit that he has failed to kick on in the past 12 months. He managed to finish in a tie for fourth place at the Dubai Championship in November and a tie for 39th place at the DP World Tour Championship the following week but it has all been something of a battle this season. However, his talent is beyond question and he will be hoping that a return to Doha will coincide with a return to his very best form.

Justin Harding won this tournament in 2019 and added the Kenya Open 12 months ago. The South African is a hugely impressive golfer who is becoming one of the most consistent performers on the DP World Tour. He finished in a tie for fourth place at the Dubai Desert Classic, a tournament he could have won had it not been for a disappointing final round of 76. It was a rare blip and he will be looking to win his third DP World Tour event this week.

Spain’s Adri Arnaus seems to improve with every passing week. Like most Spaniards, he has a glorious touch around the greens. Unlike most Spaniards, he possesses a wonderful temperament and is able to shrug off mistakes and accept the rub of the green. He is still looking for his first victory on the DP World Tour, but it cannot be far away.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

The Course

Doha Golf Club is a par 72 measuring 7,401 yards. It was designed by Peter Harradine and is the first grass course to have been built in the Middle East. It features plenty of water and 10,000 trees.

Tournament Winners

It was won in 2015 and 2016 by Branden Grace, in 2017 by Wang Jeung-hun , in 2018 by Eddie Pepperell, in 2019 by Justin Harding, in 2020 by Jorge Campillo and in 2021 by Antoine Rozner.

Form Guide

Adri Arnaus is in a rich vein of form. It started at the Abu Dhabi Championship, where he finished in a tie for 20th after a closing round of 65. He missed the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic but then finished in a tie for ninth at the Ras al Khaimah Classic, joint eighth at the Kenya Open and joint second at the Kenya Magical Open. Justin Harding won the Qatar Masters three years ago and should have won the Dubai Desert Classic. He led after three rounds but faded with a final round of 76. He adores these conditions and will genuinely fancy his chances of landing a third DP World Tour title.

To Win:

Adri Arnaus. Closing in on maiden win

Each Way:

Justin Harding. Hugely underrated

Outsiders:

Thorbjorn Olesen. Desperately looking to get back to the top

Thriston Lawrence. Impressive South African

Callum Shinkwin. Big hitter

Eddie Pepperell. Whatever happened to Eddie?