Martin Kaymer has his sights set on gaining back-to-back European Tour victories by finishing top of the leaderboard in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

The German had no trouble controlling his golf ball when recently landing the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in what was his first event of 2010.

He will now be hoping to follow up on his one-shot triumph over Cobra Pro CB golf irons user Ian Poulter by gaining a sixth career European Tour success in Qatar.

However, perhaps more importantly, a strong result for the 25-year-old will help him amass more Ryder Cup points as he seeks to make his maiden appearance in the team event at Celtic Manor this year.

According to the European Tour website, Kaymer said: "My main goal is just to play the Ryder Cup this year.

"Last week was my fifth win on tour, which is awesome. Hopefully I can do well this week and keep climbing up the Ryder Cup rankings."

Poulter will also be attempting to avenge his recent near miss, with nine of the world's top 20 players bringing their cart bag to Doha.

World number four Lee Westwood will be looking to bounce back from missing the cut in Abu Dhabi by challenging nearer the top of the leaderboard, while Henrik Stenson has a proven track record at the course.

The Titleist Pro V1x golf ball user has racked up a victory and three second-place finishes in his last five appearances at the Doha Golf Club and he feels his knowledge of the course will give him a distinct advantage.

He commented: "I know the course inside-out, which is always going to help. It's a course I really enjoy playing.

"The greens are really good and the rough fairly thick. It's a fair set-up but I think scoring is normally a little bit higher than in Abu Dhabi."

Phil Mickelson's return to action after a ten-week break is the highlight of the upcoming event on the PGA Tour.

The world number two, who plays with Callaway golf equipment, has not been since winning the WGC-CA Championship in Shanghai in November.

However, he returns for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in the hope of emerging victorious at the course for the first time since 2001.

Australian star Robert Allenby is expected to be among his chief challengers after following up on two victories late in 2009 by taking the runners-up spot in the recent Sony Open.

Nike golf clubs user Lucas Glover is another who has the game to threaten at the head of the leaderboard, while Nick Watney will be optimistic of making a successful defence of the title he claimed 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, Brandt Snedeker feels that the conditions, rather than the general form of the players taking part, may have the biggest bearing on the end result.

He said: "With more rain coming, it's going to make guys go through longer days. We'll hit mud balls. The rough around the greens will be extremely tough, especially with the new grooves."

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