GOLF/Qatar Masters:Ryder Cup team-mates Paul McGinley and Luke Donald are looking forward to kicking off the second event of the Middle Eastern desert swing at this week's Qatar Masters in Doha after enjoying successful starts to the year in Abu Dhabi.
At last week's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship McGinley collected his first top-10 finish since the 2006 Mallorca Classic as the Dubliner finished in a tie for ninth place alongside Ian Poulter at eight under par.
Prior to Christmas, in his first event of the 2008 European Tour season, McGinley finished tied for 50th at the Hong Kong Open, but only dropped three strokes around the Abu Dhabi Golf Club course and recorded a bogey-free third-round 66, six under par.
"I am just looking to continue this week. It was a good performance last week and I am looking for that to continue. I led the greens in regulation last week but I didn't putt very well. If I play as well as I played last week and putt better I will have a good week," McGinley said.
"I need to improve my putting. Anybody who wins a tournament or contends, putts well and I have always done so in the past when I have played well.
"There is only so much you can do by hitting the ball well, you have got to convert your chances and that is what I am looking to do this week. I created some birdie chances last week and failed to convert some. I did not putt well and that often happens when you hit so many greens."
Donald finished a shot further back at seven under par to just miss out in a tie for 11th, but did record his highest finish on the European Tour since securing a tie for fourth at July's Scottish Open.
"It's a course where if you play well there is a chance to make birdies. There is not too much rough so there is not a premium on hitting it in the fairway but you will still have to make birdies.
Despite the withdrawal of defending champion Retief Goosen due to an eye complaint, Donald and McGinley will tee off alongside another eight of the world's top 25 players at the Doha Golf Club tomorrow.
Australian world number eight Adam Scott, the 2002 Qatar Masters champion, is the highest-ranked player competing this week, while Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Niclas Fasth, Paul Casey and Scott Verplank are all expected to be challenging.
Westwood and Stenson will be looking to build on last week's second-place finishes behind German youngster Martin Kaymer, who has also made the short trip to Doha.
After narrowly missing out on a top-10 finish in Abu Dhabi with a closing 68, Rory McIlroy is turning his attentions to this week's Qatar Masters on a course which is "right up my street."
"I am very confident ahead of Qatar," he added. "I feel like I am hitting it really good. If I can play the way I played in Abu Dhabi and hole a few more putts I will be right up there. I did a lot of practice over the New Year. I went to Dubai and just hit balls for a week. I just feel like I'm nearly there. I am there ball-striking wise, if I can just put it all together I will be doing good."
McIlroy on the verge of breaking into the world's top 200 following his joint 11th at the Abu Dhabi Championship has even seen his name mentioned as an outside candidate for a Ryder Cup berth later this year at Valhalla. "The Ryder Cup is not my ultimate goal," McIlroy said.
"I want to be a major contender in five or 10 years and try and win majors and if I can do that I will achieve my main goal. If you are doing that you are going to make Ryder Cup teams.
"I try to take it all in my stride, it's always nice to be mentioned. I don't really feel that under pressure, I know that I can play golf and I go out and play and I don't have to worry about anything else. All I want to do is be happy with where I am at with my game and let everything else take care of itself."
While McIlroy has high aims for later in his career, he is cautious about pushing himself too far as he looks to establish himself. "This year I want to get into the world's top 100 and get into the USPGA championship and I think at this stage that is a good goal for me," he added.
Qatar Masters
Venue:Doha Golf Club
Prize-money:€1,715,000 (€285,882 to winner).
Length:7,388yds. Par: 72
Course characteristics:Water comes into play on six holes. Bermuda greens are quick with tricky slopes.
Defending champion:Retief Goosen
Irish in action:Peter Lawrie, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane.
On TV:Live on Sky. starting 8am.
Weather forecast:Rain, scattered clouds and wind. (Shamal).
