Doha GC. Designer: Harradine, 1996; Course Type: Desert; Par: 72; Length: 7,466 yards; Water Hazards: 6; Fairways: Bermuda; Rough: Bermuda; Greens: Paspalum, 11’6″ on the stimp.
Course Overview. A new spot in the calendar for the Qatar Masters, but a thankful return to the Harradine-designed Doha Golf Club which had hosted this event since its inauguration in 1998, until the event moved to Education City in 2020 for 2 renewals before returning last year, giving us plenty of course history stats to review.
At 7,466 yards in length, the course has historically favoured longer hitters when conditions are tranquil; wayward drives aren’t punished as severely as other courses on the circuit with relatively thin rough, allowing the bombers to attack more freely. However the exposed layout is particularly susceptible to wind and even the most tranquil of forecasts in the region can still result in a fair breeze blowing over the track at times, which brings the more controlled ball-strikers into the mix.
The par-72 layout is a conventional pair of 9s with the outward 9 measuring 238 yards longer than the inward 9. The par-5s play amongst the easiest of the holes as you might expect with even the 659 yard 9th playing under par generally, however the driveable par-4 16th is also a birdie and eagle opportunity for most of the field.

Tournament Stats. We’ve published some key player statistics for this week’s Qatar Masters that will help to shape a view on players who traditionally play well at this event.
As previously noted, Doha hosted this event up to 2019 and then again last year, so the 2020/21 events held at Education City should be considered accordingly: Current Form | Tournament Form | First Round Leader Stats | Combined Stats.
Predictor Model. Our published Predictor Model is available here. As always you can build your own model using the variables available.
Winners & Prices. 2022: Ewen Ferguson, 150/1; 2021: Antoine Rozner, 22/1; 2020: Jorge Campillo, 125/1; 2019: Justin Harding, 55/1; 2018: Eddie Pepperell, 70/1; 2017: Jeunghun Wang, 33/1; 2016: Branden Grace, 8/1; 2015: Branden Grace, 25/1; 2014: Sergio Garcia, 8/1; 2013: Chris Wood, 100/1; 2012: Paul Lawrie, 50/1; 2011: Thomas Bjorn, 200/1; 2010: Robert Karlsson, 66/1.
Weather Forecast. The latest weather forecast for the Doha region in Qatar is here.
Clear skies and temperatures in the high-80s Fahrenheit will greet the players this week. The wind doesn’t appear to be as much of a feature here this year as some other renewals, with 5-10mph expected on each of the 4 tournament days, with maybe the odd gust a little higher in the afternoons.
Tournament Trends & Key Factors. Analysing the final stats of the past 11 winners here at Doha gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this test:
- 2022: Ewen Ferguson. 297 yards (46th), 57.1% fairways (21st), 72.2% greens in regulation (14th), 65.0% scrambling (18th), 1.75 putts per GIR (10th).
- 2019: Justin Harding. 300 yards (31st), 53.6% fairways (20th), 69.4% greens in regulation (50th), 72.7% scrambling (13th), 1.72 putts per GIR (10th).
- 2018: Eddie Pepperell. 268 yards (77th), 67.9% fairways (3rd), 80.6% greens in regulation (16th), 71.4% scrambling (9th), 1.66 putts per GIR (9th).
- 2017: Jeunghun Wang. 292 yards (37th), 50% fairways (40th), 77.8% greens in regulation (26th), 68.8% scrambling (7th), 1.71 putts per GIR (15th).
- 2016: Branden Grace. 306 yards (6th), 46.4% fairways (44th), 76.4% greens in regulation (19th), 76.5% scrambling (3rd), 1.71 putts per GIR (4th).
- 2015: Branden Grace. 296 yards (9th), 48.2% fairways (61st), 83.3% greens in regulation (3rd), 66.7% scrambling (23rd), 1.63 putts per GIR (2nd).
- 2014: Sergio Garcia. 300 yards (5th), 51.8% fairways (54th), 75.0% greens in regulation (32nd), 72.2% scrambling (12th), 1.72 putts per GIR (18th).
- 2013: Chris Wood. 297 yards (13th), 62.5% fairways (17th), 81.9% greens in regulation (6th), 53.8% scrambling (58th), 1.65 putts per GIR (3rd).
- 2012: Paul Lawrie. 300 yards (9th), 54.8% fairways (23rd), 79.6% greens in regulation (7th), 72.7% scrambling (6th), 1.63 putts per GIR (3rd).
- 2011: Thomas Bjorn. 288 yards (34th), 42.9% fairways (56th), 77.8% greens in regulation (3rd), 68.8% scrambling (9th), 1.69 putts per GIR (5th).
- 2010: Robert Karlsson. 296 yards (15th), 57.1% fairways (49th), 77.8% greens in regulation (4th), 68.8% scrambling (11th), 1.63 putts per GIR (4th).
With the exception of Chris Wood in 2013, scrambling ranks are generally high here at Doha and that makes sense in an event where keeping a card as clean as possible is of paramount importance given that birdies aren’t that easy to come by.
The par 3s are the toughest element of the course in my opinion, so picking players with a strong mid-iron game is a positive. This venue is particularly susceptible to the wind, so siding with strong ball-strikers or those with a proven wind/coastal pedigree if the forecast suggests anything other than a flat calm week isn’t a bad move either
Incoming Form: It’s worth noting that all Qatar Masters winners featured in the analysis below had recorded at least one top-13 finish in their previous 7 starts, and if you isolate the events here at Doha specifically, that can be refined to a top 10 or better.
Last year’s winner Ewen Ferguson follows that trend perfectly, despite his 150/1 price in the spring of 2022, having finished 8th at the Kenya Open 3 weeks before:
- 2022: Ewen Ferguson: MC/20/15/17/52/37/21/39/MC/8/61/40
- 2021: Antoine Rozner: 3/36/28/10/21/24/20/1/36/16/9/26
- 2020: Jorge Campillo: MC/MC/MC/34/28/13/18/34/MC/MC/67/MC
- 2019: Justin Harding: 43/46/14/4/MC/MC/51/7/11/4/26/MC
- 2018: Eddie Pepperell: 3/3/MC/7/10/6/34/48/MC/MC/MC/44
- 2017: Jeunghun Wang: MC/MC/MC/43/MC/13/29/70/13/2/17/MC/11
- 2016: Branden Grace: 17/3/47/30/17/5/22/3/8/4/4/5
- 2015: Branden Grace: 46/MC/MC/46/25/21/16/19/9/13/1/15/20
- 2014: Sergio Garcia: 40/61/29/37/4/18/9/11/4/2/1/19
- 2013: Chris Wood: 36/12/1/26/WD/43/MC/15/7/10/26/70
- 2012: Paul Lawrie: 59/35/16/45/59/11/49/MC/46/2/10/8
- 2011: Thomas Bjorn: 15/MC/MC/11/17/38/5/MC/WD/52/MC/44
- 2010: Robert Karlsson: 53/71/32/16/MC/MC/33/MC/MC/2/9/60
Event Form. From Justin Harding and back for the events held here at Doha, event history was mixed and certainly not a prerequisite:
- 2022: Ewen Ferguson: MC
- 2021 (Education City): Antoine Rozner: 53
- 2020 (Education City): Jorge Campillo: 25/MC/MC/62/20/13/2
- 2019: Justin Harding: Debut
- 2018: Eddie Pepperell: MC/63/4/MC
- 2017: Jeunghun Wang: Debut
- 2016: Branden Grace: 47/6/13/1
- 2015: Branden Grace: 47/6/13
- 2014: Sergio Garcia: MC/19/7/7/24/9/5/2
- 2013: Chris Wood: 14/MC/20
- 2012: Paul Lawrie: 48/1/27/34/36/69/MC/11/25/46/MC/19/
- 2011: Thomas Bjorn: MC/MC/23/9/33/60/8
- 2010: Robert Karlsson: 40/2/MC/25/5/15/22/60/37
A cursory look through the list of winners here screams links golf, which makes a level of sense given the often windswept nature of the course here at Doha, however a flat forecast may well negate that to a certain degree this week and play more into the hands of the aggressive types.
For me, some positive Middle East form is one element to look at, as is a smattering of recent form without the need for anything too spectacular. Those players who perform well on par 3s – the toughest part of this track as I’ve mentioned above – should also excel.
My selections are as follows: