Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn rolled back the years to show he’s no back number, with a stylish display to take the 54 hole lead of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. Bjorn birdied four of the last five holes to overhaul half-way leader, Austrian Markus Brier and take a one shot lead into the final round.
“When you finish a round with four birdies in the last five, you have to walk off very happy. I played fantastic yesterday to shoot that 65 and felt comfortable this morning, and felt good with the way my golf is. I’m feeling quite comfortable on the golf course considering it’s been a while since I’ve been in that kind of situation, so I’m pleased with the way the day panned out.” Bjorn told the European Tour’s official website.
Brier could still have held his lead but will rue costly double-bogeys at both the 9th and 18th holes. On the 9th, Brier’s approach to the green was too long and went through the back of the putting surface, and he failed to get down in two. On the 18th hole, Brier charted a path to the green via two trips to the thick rough down the right, laying up short of the water with his third.
Defending champion and tipster pick Robert Karlsson holds every chance of mounting a successful defence after a third round 69, including five birdies in his last seven holes, moved the Swede into third place, and he is just three shots behind Bjorn.
South Africa’s Thomas Aiken clamed fourth spot with a second successive 69 to close on 7-under par, while second tipster selection Alvaro Quiros also gave himself a chance at regaining the title he won in 2009 with a third round 66 to close on 6-under par, five off the lead. Quiros is tied with Englishman Richard Finch, who shot a round of 71.
First round leader, Retief Goosen slumped to a poor 75 to drop back to 2-under par and out of contention, while Martin Kaymer carded a round of 68 to move into minus figures, with a 1-under par three round total. With Lee Westwood having missed the cut, Kaymer could have become the new world number one with a win or second place finish, but Westy will hold onto the top spot for at least another week.
