LEE Westwood fired seven birdies but could never really get his challenge going in the last round of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha.

Four dropped shots meant he finished with a 69 and a three round total of 210 to tie for 12th place, nine behind the winner, former Open champion, Paul Lawrie.

Westwood got the worst of the conditions on the first day and did well to shoot a 71 and he also suffered during the second round when play had to be suspended because of the high winds.

His Worskop club-mate, Mark Foster, had three birdies and one dropped shot in his 70 to finish on 213 and a tie for 35th.

Coxmoor's Oliver Wilson finished on 217 after a 73 which included three birdies and four bogeys to give him a share of 69th place.

Lawrie shot a flawless closing round of 65 to win by a commanding four shots.

Winner of the title in 1999 – the same year he became Open champion – the 43-year-old Scot finished an event cut to 54 holes because of Friday's strong winds on 15 under par, with Australian Jason Day and Swede Peter Hanson joint second and American John Daly fourth.

The victory takes Lawrie into the world's top 50 for the first time since July 2003 – less than a year ago he was down in 272nd place – and if he is still there at the end of next month he will earn his first start in The Masters at Augusta for eight years.

The 43-year-old Scot, known as "Chippy" all his career, chipped in twice during a brilliant closing 65.

The victory guarantees him a place in the 64-man Accenture world match play championship in Arizona later this month and the 24-man Volvo World Match Play in Spain in May.

He is on course to win a second Ryder Cup cap – 13 years after his first.

This was the Aberdeen player's first success since his long-time coach Adam Hunter died of leukaemia in October and Lawrie was close to tears when reminded of that.

"I don't think I can play much better than that," said Lawrie.

"I've been playing well for a long, long time, but it's just nice to come out one ahead and shoot seven under."

It was the joint lowest round of the day.

He added: "When you've got a chance to win a tournament you don't sleep as well the night before and things go racing through your mind.

"You've got to get back to basics and I did that. I hit some nice shots coming in."

Also reminded that his 1999 victory in the tournament was followed five months later by lifting the Open Claret Jug at Carnoustie, Lawrie said: "Now wouldn't that be nice to get that again?"

And as for the Ryder Cup he added: "I've been trying to keep that to the back of my mind.

"If I keep playing as I am I will get in, there's no question, but there's a long way to go and I know as well as anyone that there are a lot of good players."