Andrew Coltart claimed his maiden tour victory in the Qatari desert in 1998
(Image credit: Getty Images)

This year sees the 18th staging of the Qatar Masters, but while the most recent winners have been some of the game’s biggest names, it wasn’t ever thus

For the last decade the Qatar Masters has been won by some of the biggest or most in-form players of the time, among them Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Retief Goosen, Adam Scott, Robert Karlsson, Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie and Sergio Garcia. But in its earlier years some slightly less-heralded names got their hands on the unusual clam trophy…

1998 – Andrew Coltart

A splendid weekend performance gave the Scot his first tour title in style. Rounds of 65 and 67 were good enough to see him home two clear of Andrew Sherborne and Patrick Sjoland. Coltart would go on to claim just one more tour title in 2001’s Great North Open, but also represented Europe in the infamous Brookline Ryder Cup in 1999.

2000 – Rolf Muntz

The Dutchman was a tour regular from 1994 until 2005 when he lost his card, with just limited appearances since then, mostly an annual return to the scene of his finest hour but with a significantly less successful outcome. Back in 2000, Muntz took a six-shot lead into the final round and was never really threatened, eventually finishing five clear of a fast-finishing Woosie.

The biggest moment of Rolf Muntz's career came in Qatar in 2000

The biggest moment of Rolf Muntz's career came in Qatar in 2000

2001 – Tony Johnstone

The 44-year-old Zimbabwean’s sixth and final main tour title came just weeks after his woeful putting had taken him to the brink of quitting. His gutsy final-round 70 with the famous Shamal wind that often sweeps across the Doha course at its most fierce was enough to see him home two clear of Robert Karlsson.

Tony Johnstone battle the Shamal winds for his final tour victory in 2001

Tony Johnstone battled the Shamal winds for his final tour victory in 2001

2003 – Darren Fichardt

The four-time tour winner was enjoying a pretty torrid 2003 when he showed up at Doha having banked scarcely enough to cover his air fares. He walked away €227,000 richer after successfully seeing off James Kingston in an all South African play-off en route to a career-best 39th on the Order of Merit.

Darren Fichardt overcome with relief after his 2003 victory

Darren Fichardt overcome with relief after his 2003 victory

2004 – Joakim Haeggman

The first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup hadn’t won for seven years when he arrived in the Qatari desert in 2004. An opening 75 gave little cause for hope, but Haeggman followed it with rounds of 64, 68 and 65 to pip Japan’s Nobuhito Sato by one. It would be the Swede’s most consistent, and only ever €1 million season, making 26 cuts out of 29 for 18th place on the Order of Merit.

Joakim Haeggman taking his putting very seriously en route to victory in 2004

Joakim Haeggman taking his putting very seriously en route to victory in 2004
Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response