Doha offers Els stiffer challenge

European and US Tours World number three Ernie Els insists playing in today's Qatar Masters is about more than simply collecting a huge sum of money. Els is the only member of golf's top 50 competing in Doha - an hour's flight away from the scene of Sunday's victory in the Dubai Desert Classic - in an event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.

The South African said he agreed to become the first superstar to play after agreeing a "nice deal" with the Qatar Golf Association, but that the quality of the course was "definitely a huge positive" in his decision.

"The guys I spoke to have all been raving about it and after playing Dubai it was not too far to fly," commented Els.

"I'm on a four-week stretch leading up to the Masters and I need to get my game as sharp as I can. I'm quite surprised some of the other guys have not shown up. I like to go to a tournament where the course is a challenge. There's a lot more length here than Dubai and with the rough a lot heavier it's a tougher test."

The first prize of just under £130,000 is tiny by the standards of the US Tour where Els regularly competes but his appearance fee is thought to be well in excess of that.

Europe's last winner of a major title is hoping rubbing shoulders with Els over the next two days can provide the spark to re-ignite his career. Scot Paul Lawrie has fallen all the way to 340th in the world six years on from his victory in the British Open championship. But as a former winner of the Qatar Masters - it came in 1999 just before his triumph at Carnoustie - he has been paired with Els for the opening 36 holes.

Lawrie will not even be at Augusta, his exemption from winning the Open now expired, but at the age of 36 he sees no reason why he cannot turn things round and rejoin the major league.

"Missing the cut last week was a bit of a setback. But I've hit a lot of balls since and I know that it only takes one week for it all to change," he said.

Among the Irish taking part are Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Stephen Browne and Gary Murphy.McGinley has by far the most consistent record of the regular visitors and could be in the shake-up after finishing fourth in Kuala Lumpur and 11th in Dubai on his two latest starts.