Intro:

Leading players on Tuesday (20 January) looked forward to the start of the Qatar Masters in Doha.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Henrik Stenson, former Qatar Masters champion:
(on his aims for the weekend)
"I'm going to try and play a bit better. It wasn't the result we wanted in Abu Dhabi, but again it is always a little like that early on in the year when you're trying to work on your game a little bit and maybe a little bit rusty as well. So, unfortunately we missed the cut in Abu Dhabi and I'm going to try to make up for it here this week. It's a course that I've played well on in the past and it's normally a bit of a challenge in the wind and I've managed to, to play pretty well in those conditions in the past, so of course I hope to be able to do it again."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Justin Rose, world number five:
(on his play in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship):
"The first couple of days in Abu Dhabi were definitely a little bit rough, I was sort of struggling a bit with my game, but yes, I was proud of the way I hung in to make the cut and then very happy the way I sort of took the weekend to, have another couple of rounds under my belt and obviously Sunday, I played some very good golf, shooting a bogey-free 65. So, absolutely, come in here with a bit more, a bit more confidence than I started the, started last week."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Gary Stal, winner of last weekend's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship:
(on his victory in Abu Dhabi):
"Yes, I think.... that victory changed my life , but.... this victory don't change me."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Ernie Els, former Qatar Masters champion:
(on the conditions in Doha)
"Yes, I kind of like the wind, but it's got to be consistent for everybody. Today was quite tough. The pro-am, there were some holes I was hitting six irons 150 yards where it normally goes 190 yards, so it's quite a few club wind today. If those conditions stay with us it's going to be a, quite a difficult week, so.... but the course, I've never seen it in better condition, so the players are going to enjoy it."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Stephen Gallacher, world number 33:
(on the European Tour's desert swing):
"Yes, the Middle East, the courses are perfect, the weather's perfect. It's ones I like, the next three tournaments have courses I really like and, I've done well on them before, so it's a good time to start."