23rd Jan 2017 | Qatar Masters
Qatar Masters: Romain Langasque
Past winners in Doha have been adept links players and the 2015 Amateur Champion falls into that category.
This year is the 20th edition of the Qatar Masters and although the course and surrounds are almost unrecognisable the same ‘type’ of winner keeps cropping up.
The thing past champions Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia and Branden Grace all have in common is they are terrific links players. You have three Open Champions in the group plus players who have won the Dunhill Links (Branden Grace & Paul Lawrie) or come close to winning it.
Romain Langasque hasn’t got the honours of past winners but that might just be a matter of time. The young Frenchman won the 2015 Amateur Championship at Carnoustie, one of the toughest links on the circuit and made the cut at the 2015 Open Championship as an amateur.
Last season was spent mainly on the Challenge Tour, where he finished ninth on the money list but he looks well capable of taking a hand in a higher grade.
In seven starts on the European Tour he has finished 39-33-7-34-10-21-39 and that includes a trip to Augusta for the Masters. He’s already hit the ground running the season, getting close to the lead on day three of the SA Open.
The Qatar Masters has a weaker field than Abu Dhabi and he’s a good bet at 80/1 (Sky Bet).
Odds correct at time of publishing: 06:03 23rd Jan, 2017 but subject to change
