Graeme McDowell looking in great shape to win the Qatar Masters
Published:The Commercialbank Qatar Masters tees off this Thursday and, for the second time in as many weeks, Graeme McDowell looks good to seriously challenge at the top of the leaderboard.
The 2010 US Open champion was back to somewhere approaching his best at the Abu Dhabi Championship last week and finished tied third – two shots behind champion Robert Rock.
He finished strongly and, after opening with a 72, shot three rounds in the sixties to pick up a cheque for €107,577.
His final nine holes saw him shoot a brilliant 31 which was helped in no small part by a hole-in-one at the short 12th.
He is 14/1 to win the Qatar Masters and that looks well worth a punt – especially considering McDowell finally looks like a man who has shaken off the shackles of having to deal with being a major winner.
Meanwhile, Lee Westwood is favourite for the event at 10/1 and should be in much better shape following his disappointing showing in Abu Dhabi.
The Englishman finished tied 17th following a poor four days that saw him nursing a neck injury and struggling with the greens at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
He still finished strongly though and backing Westwood each-way could prove to be a shrewd punt.
If you like your odds a little longer though, then there are two players who really catch the eye.
Matteo Manassero finished tied sixth in Abu Dhabi and shot a fantastic 65 in his second round. He is 40/1 to win in Qatar.
Finally, Spaniard Álvaro Quirós has a brilliant record in the event and won in 2009, before finishing runner-up in the last two renewals.
He is 16/1 to win but backing him with an each-way punt looks to be the most tempting proposition.
