Andersson crashes through field after nightmare

European tour golfer Fredrik Andersson was left looking like a weekend hacker today – two days after looking more like Tiger Woods.

The 33-year-old Swede, lying ninth after an opening 69 at the Qatar Masters in Doha, crashed to a nightmare 88 in the third round. And he needed two birdies in the last three holes for that.

Andersson – or Andersson Hed as he has become known since his marriage last year – stood on the 16th tee 17 over par for the day and staring at a score in the nineties. But then came putts of 25 and 10 feet.

It was not quite the end of the horror story, however. At the par five last the former amateur international hooked his third up against the leaderboard, where displayed in large letters was his own score to that point.

“Looked good, didn’t it?” said Andersson after taking a free drop, pitching 30 feet past the flag and two-putting for a bogey six.

That he was able to smile was a good sign, but what was not so good was that he was unable to blame it on injury, ill-health or breaking a club.

“I just played really bad,” he commented. “I’m working a bit on my swing, but when it doesn’t work it makes it even worse.

“After triple-bogeying the third I let it go and after a while just didn’t bother. You just want to get it over with.”

Even with playing partner Gary Rusnak managing only a 78 Andersson was last by 10 clear shots – and still had one more round to play.

Meanwhile, world number three Ernie Els began to close the gap on overnight leader Richard Green when he birdied the 224-yard third.

It took the South African, the only player in the top 50 taking part, to three under and joint 19th spot, six behind.

Green, 52nd in the rankings and needing to climb two spots in the next three weeks to earn himself a US Masters debut, was one ahead of Swedes Robert Karlsson and Pierre Fulke.