Andrew Coltart returns to the scene of his breakthrough victory on the European Tour when he defends the Qatar Masters title at Doha Golf Club.

The 28-year-old Scot held off a strong challenge from Patrik Sjöland and Andrew Sherborne to become not only a first-time winner, but the first winner in the Emirate Gulf State of Qatar, which has constructed one of the most luxurious golfing facilities in the Middle East.

Coltart admits he will never forget March 5, 1998 as long as he lives. In the locker room that Sunday morning, as he slipped on his golf shoes in preparation for his final round, the news filtered through that he had won the Australasian Order of Merit.

A few hours later, thanks to a controlled, composed closing round of 67, Coltart added the Qatar Masters crown to his curriculum vitae to join stablemates Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley as a European Tour champion.

"I would be hard pushed to beat the day at St.Andrews in 1995 when I played in Scotland’s winning Alfred Dunhill Cup team," commented Coltart. "That was an emotional moment, but it was in a team tournament. I still needed to prove myself in an individual sense.

"Still, it was a wonderful day to top the Australasian Order of Merit and to win the Qatar Masters in the same day. From the moment I arrived at the golf course I felt good, I knew I was swinging well and had no fears."

He added: "It’s funny, but I didn’t have a feeling that the course was particularly suited to my game. I thought it was really long and difficult and I remember in a practice round Thomas Björn said he thought 18 under par would be the winning score.

"I thought that was ridiculous, even though I was playing well and with a lot of confidence. As it happened, that was my winning total. Just goes to show how much I know about it!"