European Tour: Qatar Masters 2012 Winner Odds and Betting Preview

DOHA, QATAR – The second tournament of the European Tour’s ‘Desert Swing’ is held in Qatar this week at the Doha Golf Club. The event last year was won by Thomas Bjorn and a strong field has been assembled to contest the $2,500,000 purse on offer. Robert Rock showed great character by holding off Tiger Woods in Abu Dhabi last week to claim only his second European Tour victory and another exciting finish could be on the cards here.

Lee Westwood has been installed as the 10/1 favourite (bet £1 to make £10 profit) with Boylesports and sportingbet and the Word number three finished in a tie for 17th place last week. He was playing with a neck injury in Abu Dhabi but still managed to finish second in the greens in regulation statistic and if he has overcome his injury he should go well this week. Westwood has started the season very slowly in recent years and was without a top-ten finish in the first four mouths of the 2011 season but he did manage third place in Doha in 2009 and he will play with Thomas Bjorn and Jason Day over the opening two rounds.

The Spaniard Sergio Garcia is a 14/1 chance with Paddy Power and he enjoyed a decent week in the UAE finishing in a tie for twelfth place. This was a great way for him to start 2012 and as Garcia is a confidence player, he should continue building momentum here. The course should suit his clean ball striking ability and he has consistently scored well around here in the past. In his last four appearances in Qatar he has finished inside the top-ten on three and he will bid for his 11th European Tour victory this week.

Next in the betting is the world number four Martin Kaymer who is available at an industry best price of 16/1 with sportingbet. The German endured a torrid time in Abu Dhabi last week and missed the cut at a tournament he has enjoyed so much success at in recent years. He has not performed so well here in the past but following last week’s disappointment he will hope to bounce back with a strong performance here.

Graeme McDowell enjoyed a superb final round in Abu Dhabi which included a hole in one at the par-three 12th and is quoted at 16/1 with most firms to lift the trophy this week. He was handed a slice of luck when his ball rebounded off the grandstand on his final hole in Abu Dhabi to set up a ‘regulation birdie’ that enabled him to finish in a share of third place.  

Alvaro Quiros has produced some brilliant golf here in the past and is an 18/1 chance with Stan James to become the second man after Adam Scott to lift the trophy twice. The Spaniard was second here in 2010 and 2011 and won the event in 2009 and he will hope to produce his best this week after failing to make the cut in Abu Dhabi. This course will be more accommodating to his huge distance off the tee that can sometimes become wild and he is sure to challenge at the top of the leaderboard.

The defending champion Thomas Bjorn can be backed at 20/1 with William Hill and Coral and the Dane produced some brilliant golf over the weekend to haul himself up to a share of third place with McDowell and Woods. Bjorn will bid to become the first player to win this title in consecutive years and if he can build on last weekend’s exploits he is sure to go close.

George Cotzee is a 33/1 chance with Paddy Power and looks to be an exciting young talent with a big future on the European Tour. He held his game together last week to finish in a tie for sixth and it would be no surprise to see him build on that effort in the coming weeks.

Another youngster who finished in a tie for sixth in Abu Dhabi was Matteo Manassero and he is priced up at 50/1 with bet365 here. This will be the 18-year old Italians first time in Doha but with two European Tour victories to his name he should be considered in the each-way betting with most firms offering 1/4 odds, five places.

Another player who looks overpriced is Paul Lawrie who is quoted at 50/1 with most firms including BetVictor. He enjoyed a consistent week in the UAE finishing in a tie for eighth place and is a former winner of this event. He finished runner-up at the Dubai World Championships at the end of 2011 and has started the new season very strongly. The course in Doha can become a very stern test when the breeze picks up and the Scotsman excels in these conditions so expect another strong showing in the desert from him.

Selected others include: Hunter Mahan available at 22/1 with Skybet, making a rare start on the European Tour, Jason Day and KJ Choi both quoted at 35/1 with sportingbet and the strong putter Thorbjorn Olsen who is a standout 100/1 with Coral.

The first group tees off at 03.30 GMT on Thursday 2nd February and coverage of the event is broadcast on Sky Sports 1.

Qatar Masters 2012 –Winner Odds