FORMER BRITISH Open champion Paul Lawrie is back in the world’s top 50 for the first time since 2003 after a flawless performance gave him a second Qatar Masters title yesterday after the event was restricted to 54 holes.
The 43-year-old Scot, known as “Chippy” all his career, chipped in twice during a brilliant closing 65 and beat Australian Jason Day and Swede Peter Hanson by four shots to claim the €316,000 first prize.
Less than a year ago the 1999 British Open champion was down at 272nd in the rankings. Now he is part of golf’s elite group again.
The victory guarantees him a place in the 64-man Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona later this month and the 24-man Volvo World Match Play in Spain in May.
He is also on course to win a second Ryder Cup cap 13 years after his first and if he can stay in the top 50 for another seven weeks he will make a return to The Masters at Augusta in April after an eight-year gap.
This was the Aberdeen player’s first success since his long-time coach Adam Hunter died of leukaemia in October and Lawrie was close to tears when reminded of that afterwards.
“I don’t think I can play much better than that,” said Lawrie after finishing with a 15 under par total in an event cut to 54 holes because of Friday’s strong winds.
“I’ve been playing well for a long, long time, but it’s just nice to come out one ahead and shoot seven under.” It was the joint lowest round of the day .
He added: “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.”
Also reminded that his 1999 victory in the tournament was followed five months later by lifting the Claret Jug at Carnoustie Lawrie said: “Now wouldn’t that be nice to get that again?”
And as for the Ryder Cup he added: “I’ve been trying to keep that to the back of my mind. If I keep playing as I am I will get in, there’s no question, but there’s a long way to go and I know as well as anyone that there are a lot of good players.”
Michael Hoey was the best finisher amongst the Irish contingent, closing with a 68 for a tie of 12th spot on six under.
NIALL Turner finished 20th in the Myanmar Open in first tournament on Asian Tour.
The 28-year-old Muskerry golfer carded a 69 in his final round to finish on 10 under, five shots behind winner Kieran Pratt of Australia.
IRELAND’S Rebecca Codd carded a 68 in her final round at the Australian Masters on the Gold Coast to finish three under par. The Netherlands’ Christel Boeljon took the title, a birdie at the last getting her to 21 under par.
