Cape Town - After playing his way into contention at last week's Oman Open, Belgium's Thomas Pieters hopes to build on what has been an encouraging start to the 2019 European Tour season at the Qatar Masters.

The 2016 Ryder Cup star recorded his best finish since last year's US PGA Championship at Bellerive with his tied sixth result in Oman, carding a one-under-par final round to finish just two strokes behind winner Kurt Kitayama.

Pieters has finished inside the top 30 in his last nine starts worldwide and also won the Melbourne World Cup of Golf with compatriot Thomas Detry in November.

Oliver Fisher returns to Doha Golf Club hoping to go one better than his runner-up result last year. The Englishman, who carded the first ever round of 59 on the European Tour at the 2018 Portugal Masters, finished just one stroke behind Eddie Pepperell in 2018, recording his best result in ten appearances in Qatar.

Former Qatar Masters champions in the field include two-time winner and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie, victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjorn and 2016 Ryder Cup player Chris Wood.

"My game has been feeling really good for a long time now. I’m playing tournaments again and getting confidence back is the main thing," said Pieters.

"I haven't had a bad tournament yet, but last week was the first time Ive contended in a long, long time. It felt great. Winning the World Cup is different but in an individual tournament I haven't contended in a long time. I've finished in the top 30 in my last nine starts, it's frustrating. I've been there but not quite there, so I hope to keep the feeling going."