Garcia closes on Lawrie in Doha

Paul Lawrie had Spain’s Sergio Garcia snapping at his heels after the early stages of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters final round in Doha today.

Lawrie, winner of the title in 1999, led by one overnight in an event cut to 54 holes because of Friday’s strong winds and resumed with a 10-foot birdie putt.

But he parred the next four and Garcia’s four birdies in eight holes lifted him into sole possession of second spot on eight under.

Australian Jason Day had been only one behind as well following four opening birdies, but he missed the green at the sixth and bogeyed.

That made him joint third with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, France’s Jean-Baptiste Gonnet – six under for the day with two to play – and also American John Daly, who birdied three of the first four to re-ignite his bid for a first win in eight years.