EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS:ALVARO QUIROS has promised to keep his feet firmly on the ground after yesterday's Qatar Masters victory propelled the talented Spaniard firmly onto the world stage.
The 26-year-old held his nerve over the final round to seal a comfortable three-stroke victory over former champion Henrik Stenson and South African Louis Oosthuizen with a final-round, three-under-par 69.
Meathman Damien McGrane shot one of the best rounds of the day, a 67, which left him in fourth place and earned him a cheque for €94,321.
The triumph, only three months after his win at the Portugal Masters, is set to propel the big-hitting Quiros into the world’s top 30 and all-but ensure a first major appearance at The Masters, and also open the door for the forthcoming World Golf Championship events.
But after the avid James Bond fan, who watched Tomorrow Never Dies before the final round, likened his fourth-round exploits to Daniel Craig’s gambling-based thriller Casino Royale, he played down talk of more success on the big stage.
“It wasn’t a perfect day at the beginning but I made the score and I won,” said Quiros, who lives three miles from Valderrama.
“The birdie on nine was huge, I had been trying but the ball wouldn’t go in. The tee shots and second shots weren’t very good either. But after that putt I believed a bit more and I had more focus.
“My aim over these three weeks was to get into the top 50 in the world. After Abu Dhabi my game was good but the scores weren’t coming and I had more doubts, but I just waited and kept going and I am close to playing in the majors.
“The most important thing is that I have qualified for the Matchplay, this is the first world event I am going to play and is going to be very important for me.
“There is no chance of me playing at the Ryder Cup, it is a long way off. It is easy to look at things like this after you have won but there are going to be tough times ahead and this is the most important thing, how you react to these tough times.”
After blazing a stunning, bogey-free 65 on Saturday to take the overnight lead, Quiros reached the turn one over par and was soon in a three-way tie as Stenson drained an eagle putt at the 10th. But on the back nine the putting, which was a highlight of his third round, returned and, despite finding water at the 15th to give Stenson a glimmer of hope, back-to-back birdies handed him a two-stroke lead heading up the last.
A three-putt at the final green from Stenson extended the victory margin as the Dubai-based Swede carded a 68, which also allowed Oosthuizen to record a second runner-up appearance in a week as a birdie at the last secured a 71.
“It is a surprise to me, to win a tournament is not something you do everyday. For players like Sergio Garcia and Stenson it is easy but for me it is a very special thing,” added Quiros, who rises to fourth place on the Race to Dubai.
“I am going to fly to The Masters, if I get in, to enjoy the situation. I grew up watching The Masters on TV, for me it is going to be a very special thing along with all the majors. I am just going to try and enjoy it, the scores will be important, but not the most important thing.”
Stenson’s second place ensured the 2006 champion has finished inside the top seven at Doha Golf Club for the last five years and also saw the consistent Swede record a 14th top-10 finish in 35 outings since his last European Tour success at the 2007 WCG-Accenture Match Play.
“It was a good day. Alvaro kicked in some birdies but I also had chances. But it’s nice to get a good week in early again and come bouncing back after missing the cut last week.”
Oosthuizen held the halfway lead after a second-round 65, but again missed out on a maiden European Tour title. “I’m disappointed with the way I played today, but I think the birdie at the last got me a bit more positive,” he said. “It’s a learning curve so hopefully next week will be better.”
Rory McIlroy shot a final round of 71, leaving him on three under overall while Gary Murphy finished with a disappointing 73 for level par.
