Doors begin to open as Lawrie gets back into world's top 50

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.