Davis eyes Augusta

England's Brian Davis, who broke into the world's top 50 - at exactly 50th - for the first time on Monday, goes into this week's Qatar Masters with one eye on next month's US Masters.

The 29-year-old, winner of last month's ANZ Championship in Australia, has targeted a top-six finish at Doha Golf Club this week, knowing this would virtually guarantee him a maiden appearance at Augusta National for the first major of the year.

"Brian's intention is to finish top six this week and that would pretty much secure his position for Augusta," the player's manager, Euan Inglis, said yesterday.

The top 50 in the official world rankings, as of March 29th, who have not otherwise qualified for the Masters automatically gain a place in the field.

"But the scenario changes week by week, and a lot depends on what happens on the US PGA Tour," Inglis added. "If none of the players currently ranked between 46 and 52 (including Davis) played at all over the next two weeks, Brian would slip out to 51 and Colin Montgomerie would move up from 51 to 46.

"Nothing is certain, so it makes sense for Brian to play in Qatar this week."

The Doha field includes two other winners on the 2004 European Tour, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.

Former Ryder Cup player Jimenez triumphed at last month's Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok, while former paratrooper Thongchai became the first Thai to win on the European Tour with a two-shot victory in the Malaysian Open three weeks ago.

Defending champion Darren Fichardt of South Africa is one of five former winners in this week's field, along with 1998 champion Andrew Coltart of Scotland, compatriot Paul Lawrie (1999), Dutchman Rolf Muntz (2000) and Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone (2001).

Last year, Fichardt edged out fellow South African James Kingston at the first extra hole to end a tournament that was severely disrupted by the swirling Shamal wind.

Ireland's Paul McGinley, who lost an effective head-to-head with Mark O'Meara for last week's Dubai Desert Classic, is also playing in Doha.

McGinley's finish at the weekend lifted him 58 places in the world rankings to 101st. He has no complaint about that, but does wonder how he came to be 159th after a season where he was 33rd on the European Order of Merit.

"To be 30th in Europe does not equate to being 160th in the world, but I don't know whether there's a fault in the system," he said.

McGinley is joined by five other Irishmen at the event: Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Graeme McDowell, Gary Murphy and Graham Spring.