Golf betting: Qatar Masters preview

Anyone put off by the favouritism attributed by the bookies to Henrik Stenson at the Qatar Masters, should take one brief glance at the Big Swede's track record before lumping on Paddy Power's 10/1 this weekend.

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Stenson loves this time of year as he proved when winning back-to-back tournaments at the Dubai Desert Classic and the WGC Accenture World Match Play proved eleven months ago. The year before that he came second at Abu Dhabi before winning this very tournament, so, having finished joint second to Martin Kaymer last week, it's fair to say that the unflappable Scandinavian will feel more than confident of a repeat victory at Doha Golf Club.

Stenson will be up against a strong field including ten of the World's top 30 golfers this weekend. The likes of Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey will all be teeing up in a star-studded contest but after finishing a career best fourth place in the European rankings last year the heat of the competition is something that now motivates, rather than intimidates the 31-year-old from Gothenburg.

Lee Westwood is another player who will fancy his chances after finishing second alongside Stenson last week. The Englishman is in remarkable touch and seems to finish in the top three whenever he gets his clubs out these days. His last five tournaments read: 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 61st, 1st and so there is no question that the Englishman is likely to be a frontrunner this week, hence his 12/1 odds.

Westwood's friend Ian Poulter (25/1) also looks to be finding his form. The Arsenal fan from Hitchin had a middling season last year but began to get into the groove towards the end of the year, finishing with two top tens in his last three tournaments. Poults came ninth last week and so will be raring to go in a tournament from which both defending champion Retief Goosen and Scott Verplank have had to withdraw with eye and stomach complaints respectively.

Robert Karlsson is another player who can't be ignored on recent form. The Swede has come 11th, 2nd, 11th, 2nd in his last four tournaments and so, if the pattern continues he'll be second again here. He likes the Doha Golf Club and came fifth here three years ago so 25/1 is worth an each-way squeak.

Verdict: 2pts Henrik Stenson e/w @ 10/1 (Paddy Power); 2pts Lee Westwood e/w @ 12/1 (Coral/Bet365/Ladbrokes); Ian Poulter 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes); 1pt Robert Karlsson @ 28/1 (General)

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