For a second time in four months Scott Jamieson produced a CB Qatar Masters season-changing showing in Doha.
Jamieson superbly muscled his way from five shots back, posting a best-of-the-week 65 to brilliantly grab the clubhouse lead before eventually sharing third place at 12-under par on the Doha Golf Club course.
It was some 45 minutes before Jamieson’s 12-under tally was matched and a further 15 minutes before the in-form Rikya Hoshino birdied 16 to move one clear ahead of Japan golfer also grabbing a birdie at 17 and then holing a testing four-footer for par and win by a shot at 14-under.
Hoshino, 27, collected a first Tour title and after being runner-up ‘Down Under’ in the opening two events of the 2023/24 season in Australia.
French-born Tour rookie Ugo Coussaud birdied the last in a 69 to grab second at 13-under.
Four months ago, Jamieson arrived in Doha for the final event of the ‘regular DP World Tour season, lying three spots outside the leading 116 who would retain full ’24 season membership. The Scot superbly accepted the challenge posting an opening 65 on route to a rousing third place result to easily secure his Tour card.
And there were the very emotional scenes in arriving home to Jacksonville in being met by his wife and young children.
Jamieson, contesting a 353rd Tour event, is sure to receive a similar welcome home having jumped 23 spots to now be the leading Scot at 24th on the 2024 Race to Dubai money list.
He said: “It feels very similar to the conversation we had at the end of last year.
“I was a little slow out of the blocks then holed a good birdie putt on seven that kind of freed me up a little bit before a really good birdie on nine”.
Jamieson birdied the 10th, 12th and 14th holes before his standout shot for the week, almost holing his 296-yard tee-shot at the short, downhill par-4 16th, that stopped just a foot from the cut for the easiest eagle ‘2’.
The Scot then got up-and-down from an 18th hole greenside bunker for birdie for his seven-under round.
BRAVELY ADMITS @scottjamieson54 ….
He looked like Mary Poppins walking with ☔️ during final round @CBQatarMasters @DohaGolfClub
Read: https://t.co/0VxXrgSXYH
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport pic.twitter.com/DhqbiDRCX3
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) February 11, 2024
Jamieson added: “I knew teeing-up today that there would be some chances in this wind and the early rain we had.
“Funny, I’ve spent a month out here in the desert but didn’t bring an umbrella with me, and today we get some rain. My caddy grabbed one from the hotel but then I looked a bit like Mary Poppins out there (smiling) but it’s a great test and I really love this golf course
“The guys who’ve taken over here have done such a good job as they have the greens firm and fast.
“It’s a great result and looking back to last October I was home in 29 and home in 30 today, so you never know while Sunday pins, as well, can be tricky so if you hit it well you have a good chance but if not, it can be a little smelly.
“Thankfully everything fell my way and it’s a great result I can use to build on heading into the season proper”.
Disappointment for fellow Scot and former Qatar champ Ewen Ferguson, who went into the last day just a shot from the lead but slipping to a share of ninth following a closing 73.