Back-to-back winning Branden Grace expressed both surprise and sympathy for Paul Lawrie after the Scot crashed out of contention on the final day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.
Lawrie went into the last round leading by two shots and remained two clear when he birdied the first hole in bright but cold and windy conditions on the Doha Golf Club course.
However it proved the high-water mark in Lawrie’s challenge to become the first player in the 18-year history of the event to win the ‘Mother of Pearl’ trophy three times.
As well, the 47-year old Lawrie was lookin
Branden Grace full of praise for Paul Lawrie after winning back-to-back Commercial Bank Qatar Masters held at the Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar. 30th January 2016.
Picture: Eoin Clarke | Golffile
All photos usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Eoin Clarke)
opean Tour victories, excluding his 1999 Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie, the Aberdonian had led or shared in the lead heading into the final round in his seven other victories.
There were really no alarm bells ringing when he flew the green with his second shot at the par four second hole and then chipped and two-putted for a bogey ‘5’.
And even when Lawrie also bogeyed the fifth there should have been no concern as Grace also dropped a shot at the same hole for the duo, along with Dane Thorbjorn Olesen to be sharing the lead at 10-under par.
However, when Lawrie snap-hooked his drive at the par five ninth and left into trees from where he was forced to take a penalty drop, his tournament was over in proceeding to put is third into a water hazard and walk off with a double bogey.
Lawrie then snap-hooked his drive left at the 14th and also had to take a penalty drop for an eventual second double bogey.
And then at short par four 16th, that many players eagled during the week in being able to drive the green, Lawrie again hooked his tee shot taking a fourth bogey of the day.
His only joy in a painful four-and-a-half hours on course was a 17th hole birdie in an eventual six over par 78 that handed Lawrie a distant share of 13th place at seven under par and seven shots adrift of Grace.
A familiar sight unfortunately for Paul Lawrie on the final day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Picture: Eoin Clarke | Golffile
All photos usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Eoin Clarke)
Grace captured his seventh European Tour title and a 10th worldwide with a final round 69 to win by two shots at 14-under par from Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (70) and Olesen (71).
However while Grace was thrilled to have emerged victorious the 27-year old South African, who should move to No. 10 on the World Rankings, had a sympathetic word for Lawrie.
He said: “I feel for Paul as no matter how hard you are trying to win a tournament, you don’t like to see your opponent and colleague collapse as we saw out there today.
“I played the third round with Brett Rumford and I felt for ‘Rummy’ as he also shot a 78, so he had a bad one, as well.
“That’s just part of golf but then I know Paul has won here twice before and he’s achieved a lot in his career including winning an Open Championship and playing in a couple of European Ryder Cup sides.
“So he’s accomplished so much in his career and I am sure he would the first to say that rounds like today happen in a career.
“It’s just sad for him it had to happen today when he’s trying to win this event for third time.
“I thought to myself even when he took that double on nine he might come back from that but then the key now for Paul, and for any of us out here, is how well you bounce back from these situations.
“He just got very unlucky on the greens today and apart from the birdie on the first, the only time the ball went his way on the greens was on 17 while he put a good stroke on 18.
“So you always feel for those you are playing beside when they have really bad days like today.
“But then who’s to know Paul can’t take the form he showed for the better part of this week and into next week and win there because, and I said earlier, this game is like that.”
