Marcus Fraser is in ‘Lethal ’ mode and looking to celebrate Australia Day this Saturday with victory in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Fraser blasted out a five under par 67 to move to a share of the clubhouse lead and again in benign conditions about the Doha Golf Club.
Marcus Fraser hoping the combination of a new driver and the new Lethal golf ball can lead to victory on Australia Day in Doha. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The Australian’s opening 36-hole tally is easily the best in his six showing in the Qatari capital while his scores, including a first round 68, is only the fourth time Fraser’s broken 70 in 15 rounds on the Peter Harradine designed course.
“I played really well although it was a little bit scrappy down the last hole but I managed to scramble a par,” he said.
“I’ve had four weeks away from tournament golf, and three of those weeks were when I didn’t do anything.”
Fraser’s best finish in Doha, and hosts for the 2022 World Cup, was 12th in 2005.
The double European Tour winner (2003 Russian Open and 2010 Ballantine’s Championship) is using a new TaylorMade R1 driver and also using the new TaylorMade Lethal ball.
And it’s this combination Fraser says is helping the 34-year old add some 15 yards to his game.
“I first used the new R1 on Monday last week and it went straight in the bag,” he said.
“It was then a pretty easy decision with the new ball, the new Lethal ball, and it’s always a good thing when someone like me, who doesn’t hit it all that far, can pick up some distance.”
And with Australia Day looming on the final day of the event – January 26th – Fraser will be looking to become only the second Australian-born winner behind Adam Scott who lifted the gleaming ‘Mother of Pearl’ trophy in 2002 and then 2008.
“It would be nice to celebrate Australia Day with a win but there’s still two rounds to play so there’s no point of getting ahead of myself,” he said.
