Golf
Lawrie wins Qatar Masters
2012-02-05 15:33
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Doha - Britain's Paul Lawrie hit a final-round 65 to win his second Qatar Masters title on Sunday, evoking memories of his British Open success in 1999.
The Doha tournament was reduced to 54 holes due to high winds on Friday and, after carding 69 and 67 in the opening two rounds, Lawrie produced a bogey-free third to leave the chasing pack trailing.
After finishing four strokes clear of Australia's Jason Day and Sweden's Peter Hanson, he was reminded that the last time he triumphed in Qatar, he went on to claim the British Open title five months later at Carnoustie.
"Now wouldn't that be nice to get that again?" he said after finishing on 15 under par with the joint lowest round of the day.
The 43-year-old Scot has made a good start to the year with top-10 finishes in last month's Volvo Golf Champions and Abu Dhabi Championship.
Lawrie held a one-shot lead after Saturday's second round and struck an eagle on the ninth and four birdies on the back nine to win his seventh European Tour title.
"I don't think I can play much better than that," he said.
"When you've got a chance to win a tournament you don't sleep as well the night before and things go racing through your mind.
"You've got to get back to basics and I did that. I hit some nice shots coming in."
Leading scores after the weather-hit Qatar Masters golf tournament which was played over 54 holes at Doha Golf Club:
201 - Paul Lawrie (SCO) 69-67-65
205 - Jason Day (AUS) 68-72-65, Peter Hanson (SWE) 69-69-67
207 - John Daly (USA) 67-73-67
208 - Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 71-72-65, Soren Hansen (DEN) 71-71-66, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 72-68-68, Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG) 71-67-70
209 - Martin Kaymer (GER) 71-70-68, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 72-68-69, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 69-68-72
210 - Anders Hansen (DEN) 70-73- 67, Keith Horne (RSA) 73-69-68, Scott Jamieson (SCO) 73-69-68, Michael Hoey (NIR), 71-71-68, Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 71-70-69, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 66-75-69, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-70-69, Marcel Siem (GER) 71-69-70
211- Chris Wood (ENG) 72-72-67, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 72-71-68, Brett Rumford (AUS) 74-69-68, Andrew Dodt (AUS) 71-69-71, James Kingston (RSA) 70-69-72
212 - Shaun Micheel (USA) 71-74-67, Jorge Campillo (ESP) 73-71-68, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 79-65-68, Richard Finch (ENG) 69-74-69, Richard Green (AUS) 70-73-69, Gregory Havret (FRA) 71-72-69, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 72-69-71, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 71-70-71, Anthony Wall (ENG) 74-66-72, Simon Khan (ENG) 71-68- 73