Paul Lawrie ignited hopes of becoming the first player to capture three Commercial Bank Qatar Masters ‘Mother of Pearl’ trophies in Doha.

Lawrie bounced back from an opening three-putt from 15-feet to snatch six birdies, including four in a five-hole stretch from the sixth hole, in a round of a five under par 67 in bright but windy conditions on the Doha Golf Club course.

Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and South African Louis Oosthuizen head the field posting 65s to be one clear of three players, including Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, at six under par.

Each day, Lawrie has walked past Doha’s ‘Wall of Champions’ with his picture featuring in capturing the second Qatar Masters in 1999 and a second 13 years later in 2012.

The last time a player won the same event three times was South African Charl Schwartzel who two years ago toasted a third Alfred Dunhill Championship success in his homeland.

“It’s nice seeing your picture, as a former champion, up on display and it’s a golf course I have always enjoyed and always played well,” said Lawrie.

“I’ve had a lot of good rounds here, a lot of success, won twice, and had quite a few good weeks here over the years.

“I’ve always been pretty comfortable knocking the ball down. Always been a pretty good wind player, which it normally blows around here this afternoon. It’s obviously a little tougher than this morning.

“Got to roll the sleeves up and get your ball around in as low a number as you can, and sometimes I’m pretty good at that.”

One good round doesn’t make for a successful season but it’s not lost of the Scot that each time he’s won in the Qatar capital he’s qualified automatically for the European Ryder Cup team.

“I played nicely in the Joburg Open, and last week I was terrible,” he said.

“I drove the ball really poorly and really struggled last week. I feel as though I’m not far away and hopefully this afternoon is a little bit of a boost that we need to kick on and have a good week.”