In fact, it will be nearly a full month without golf for the Tour as their next event will be in Spain beginning April 21.

However, there is much golf to be played this week first at a tournament which has been a staple on the European schedule since 1998.

The event makes a return to a familiar course in 2022 when it heads back to Doha Golf Club after a two-year stint at the Education City course.

22 of the 24 Qatar Masters tournaments played to date have been at the Doha Golf Club so it will be a familiar venue for many in the field.

RIGHT: France's Antoine Rozner took home one of the more interesting trophies in world golf last year in Doha. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.

Being played opposite the WGC Matchplay event means the field lacks genuine star power but as recent results have shown that doesn’t mean the golf is any less entertaining.

The last four tournaments on the schedule have yielded winning scores of 25, 24, 16 and 22-under-par, hardly the scores of players lacking skill.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Antoine Rozner captured the title in style with a 60-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to prevail by a single stroke.

Playing in the second to last group, Rozner claimed his second title in just six starts beating Darren Fichardt, Guido Migliozzi and Gaganjeet Bhullar into second place.

COURSE: It will be a welcome return to a familiar layout for many at Doha Golf Club after more than 20 years as host prior to 2020.

The first all grass course in Qatar, the mid 1990’s layout has always been highly regarded by players on the Tour and provides a good test of golf for a field of this calibre.

However, even those who have played at Doha multiple times will face one major change with the grass on all 18 greens completely replaced last year.

The club switched from a potable water supply to treated effluent which wasn’t suitable for the Bermuda grass surfaces which had been in play since the course was first built.

All greens were completely stripped and paspalum grass re-laid though few changes were made to the shapes of the putting surfaces during the process.

Big hitting South African Wilco Nienabar is one to watch this week in Qatar. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.

It will be interesting to see how or even if the switch affects scoring which have generally been double digits under par for this event.

PRIZEMONEY: US$2,000,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Big hitting Wilco Nienaber played three decent rounds in finishing top-10 at last week’s low scoring event in South Africa and will be one to watch this week.

The Doha Golf Club sets up well for long hitters at just shy of 6,800 metres and the South African statistically gains almost a shot on the field off the tee in 2022.

Nienaber has played this event three times though only one of those at this course when finishing T48 in 2019.

The last player to win at Doha Golf Club was another South African, Justin Harding. He missed the cut last week in his home country but has been playing decent golf much of the year.

A player who fares better when birdies are more difficult to come by, he has found it difficult to keep up in the hot scoring tournaments of the past couple of weeks but will feel more comfortable this week.

72-HOLE RECORD: 268 (-20, Paul Lawrie, 1999; Adam Scott, 2002)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Adam Scott (2002 & 2008).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Scott Hend, Wade Ormsby, Jason Scrivener, Maverick Antcliff and Blake Windred.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 8pm – 1am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 8pm – 1am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 10:55pm – 12:30am)
Round 4: No currently listed coverage.
*AEDT, check local guides