If Paul Lawrie were to capture a record three Commercial Bank Qatar Masters he would also become the oldest Scottish-born player to win on the European Tour.
Lawrie, who turned 47 on January 1st, holed a 10-foot putt for birdie at the closing hole in a round of 70 for a 13-under par in bright but un-seasonally cold and very windy conditions on day three of the event in Doha.
The two-time Qatar champion went into day three leading by one but then proceeded to post 13 straight pars before the first of just two birdies in his round at the 14th.
Paul Lawrie birdies the last on day three to lead by two shots (6)
Lawrie had seen off playing partner overnight rival Nicolas Colsaerts, who dropped five strokes in three holes also from the 14th, but with defending champion Branden Grace of South Africa, and competing thee groups ahead, throwing down the gauntlet with three closing birdies in a 68 for an 11-under par tally.
Lawrie then answered Grace’s challenge in holing a second birdie of his round on the last.
Grace had birdied the first and in similar vein as Lawrie parred his next 14 holes before a closing birdie hat trick to be tied in second place with Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.
Olesen, the reigning Alfred Dunhill Links champion, birdied two of his three closing holes in a core of 69.
While Grace is looking to become the first back-to-back winner in Qatar, Lawrie is out to be the first player to capture the event, that was first won by Andrew Coltart in 1998, three times after successes in 1999 and 2012.
“All you can try to do is give yourself a chance of winning as every week we play, your job is to get yourself in contention with nine holes to play,” said Lawrie.
“There is a lot of players behind me with Branden Grace the defending champion and is also well up on the World Rankings (No. 11).
“So tomorrow is going to be a different challenge but I’m looking forward to it.”
Paul Lawrie finds himself the centre of attention after his third round.
If Lawrie were to capture a third Qatar Masters ‘Mother of Pearl’ trophy he would become the oldest winning Scottish-born player in European Tour history.
Lawrie would be older than 31-times Tour winning Colin Montgomerie, who was 44 years and 15 days old when he captured a last regular main Tour title, the 2007 French Open.
And Lawrie would be older than Sam Torrance who captured the last of 21 Tour victories in winning the 1998 French Open aged close to 44 years and 11 months old.
As well, Lawrie would be 22-years old than Sandy Lyle who won his last Tour title in 1992 while Brian Barnes was 36 winning his ninth and final tournament on the main Tour in 1982, and Bernard Gallacher aged 35 when handed his last tournament trophy two years later.
“The key is to remain in the present and not to get ahead of myself,” said Lawrie.
“You can ask me tomorrow night about winning and breaking records as I had moments out there today where I was not at my best and found myself getting frustrated.
“It’s just nice to know that you’ve been there before, done it a couple of times on this golf course so that will help.”
On the plus side, Lawrie’s won seven of his eight Tour titles while leading or sharing the lead going into the final round with the exception of the 1999 Open when he stormed from 10 shots back to win in a play-off at Carnoustie.
In his two Qatar Masters victories Lawrie led by five shots going into the final 1999 round and won by eight shots.
Then in 2012 he was leading by five through 54-holes and declared the winner when strong winds forced the final round to be cancelled.
And if Lawrie needed any more incentive he has been using since the start of the New Year the same Odyssey 2-Ball putter he won with here in Qatar four years ago.
“I have been using the 2-Ball since the Joburg three weeks ago, so hopefully it will do the job again here in Qatar tomorrow.”
In 2001, Lawrie became the first player worldwide to win using the 2-Ball putter in capturing the maiden Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by one shot after being tied after 54 holes with Paul McGinley.
OTHER SCOTS
211 – Richie Ramsay (71, 69, 71); 214 – Marc Warren (73, 68, 73); 216 – Scott Jamieson (73, 70, 73), Clarke Lutton (68, 72, 76).
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