The big news coming out in golf this week is that the R&A and the USGA are looking at some major changes to the rules this year. A few examples have believed to have been leaked, under consideration are:

Reducing the search time for lost balls from five minutes to three; allowing players to repair spike marks on greens; allowing players to drop a ball from any height when taking relief rather than the current stipulation of shoulder height; more of an emphasis on using red stakes for water hazards while still allowing yellow stakes in some cases; and eliminating the use of club lengths for taking relief.

The three-minute search rule will be seen as a means to try to speed up the game, while Tour Professionals will cheer any new rule allowing spike marks to be repaired. Professionals have complained for years at the unfairness of earlier groups playing on perfect greens while the leaders have to putt through marks left by the rest of the field. The European Tour even defied the R&A on this issue during the 1976 season, allowing its members to fix spike marks. It's taken over three years for the governing bodies to complete this process. The R&A and USGA are expected to reveal the full extent of the changes shortly.


 

Sundridge Park golfer Alfie Plant has been named in the provisional Great Britain and Ireland 19-man squad for this year's Walker Cup match against the USA.

Taking place in September at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club, Plant's selection gives him a good opportunity to make the final team of 10 who will line up against the leading Americans in the amateur game's equivalent of the Ryder Cup.


 

The ladies braved the cold weather to play a Stableford around the East Course and it was Lisa Heywood who took top spot in Division One with 33pts on countback from Janet Alldread. 

And in Division Two it was Wendy Yuen who was the runaway winner with 39pts from Michelle Quinlan on 30pts.

 

A strong field has assembled in Doha to do battle for the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Martin Kaymer, Alex Noren and Tommy Fleetwood are among those teeing it up.

This will be the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and an impressive group of players has made their way to Doha for the competition. Major champions Martin Kaymer, Ernie Els, Paul Lawrie and Graeme McDowell will tee it up, so too will European Tour stars Alex Noren, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Chris Wood and, last week's winner Tommy Fleetwood.

Germany's Kaymer is looking forward to playing in the event for the first time since 2014. "I like the layout, it's nice weather and it has produced many great winners," he said. "Hopefully I have the chance to join that list." 

The first Qatar Masters was won by Andrew Coltart back in 1998. Since then the event has produced some notable champions. In 1999 Paul Lawrie was a winner here before going on to claim the Open Championship that summer at Carnoustie. He won again in 2012. Tony Johnstone secured his final European Tour victory here in 2001. Adam Scott has twice been a winner, in 2002 then again in 2008. Swedish players have also enjoyed some success at Doha - Joakim Haegmann won the event in 2004, Henrik Stenson lifted the trophy in 2006 while Robert Karlsson triumphed in 2010.

Chris Wood won in 2013 and Sergio Garcia in 2014.Last year Branden Grace of South Africa successfully defended his Qatar Masters title. He finished two clear of Rafa Cabrera Bello and Thorbjorn Olesen. Grace won't be back to try and make it three in a row, although the two men he beat into second place last year will be. Like many of the courses in this part of the world, the layout at Doha GC is a Peter Harradine design. Opened for play in 1994, water comes into play on six holes and natural outcrops of rock are also a feature.

Player watch:

Rafa Cabrera-Bello - The talented Spaniard was runner-up in this event last year. He loves playing in the desert and showed good form in Abu Dhabi last week before fading on the weekend.

Thorbjorn Olesen - Joint runner-up with Cabrera Bello last year, Olesen has the ability to win any tournament he enters. If he can find his best game he should contend here.

Tommy Fleetwood - Should be flying after a great win last week in Abu Dhabi. The Englishman was seventh in this event last year.

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