Saturday, January 26, 2013

2013 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Recap: Chris Wood wins first career event

The 2013 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is in the book.  With a rare Saturday finish on the European Tour, the tournament gives golf enthusiasts two chances to watch final round play this weekend. Chris Wood entered Saturday's final round with a three-stroke lead over both Michael Campbell and Simon Khan.  Wood has yet to win on the European tour.  Entering the final round four strokes back was Sergio Garcia, who was making his first start in 2013.

By the end of the front nine, Wood's 3-stroke lead had turned into a 2-stroke deficit.  Garcia and South African George Coetzee had rallied to pass Wood.  By this time both Khan and Campbell had fallen out of contention.

On the back nine, Coetzee and Garcia traded the lead with birdies and Wood could not regain his lead.  Coetzee took the clubhouse lead at 17-under par with a birdie on 18.  Garcia matched him with a birdie of his own on 18.  Wood had birdie opportunities on 16 and 17, but could not convert and came to 18 a stroke behind.

A perfect drive gave Wood a mid-iron approach to the par-5, which he executed for a 15-foot eagle putt.  Wood, who had struggled on the greens in 2012, sunk the putt to win his first career European Tour event.  With the win, Wood moved into the top-64 in the Official World Golf ranking, where if the 25 year old Brit maintains his current spot, he will make the field at the first World Golf Championships event of the season.

Other Notables:

Branden Grace: T6 -12
Jason Dufner: T9 -11
Justin Rose T16 -10

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