Scott gets hot in the desert

11 birdies earn Aussie his second Qatar title

Last updated: 28th January 2008

adam scott

Scott: 11 birdies

Qatar Masters
Final leaderboard
GB and Ire unless stated
-20 A Scott (Aus)
-17 H Stenson (Swe)
-15 C Schwartzel (SA)
-14 J Edfors (Swe)
-13 L Westwood

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Australian Adam Scott scorched to a three-shot victory in the Qatar Masters after a closing round 61.

The 26-year-old - winner here in 2002 - had 11 birdies in a flawless course-record round.

Scott is the current world number eight but will move up three places on

Monday after winning his sixth European Tour title.

He started with five straight birdies to overhaul third-round leader Johan Edfors and had another hot streak after the turn with three birdies from the 10th.

The rest of the field could not live with the former Players champion, although Swede Henrik Stenson shot an impressive 65 to claim the runners-up spot.

Stenson was also second last week and will take some good form into the defence of his Dubai title next week.

A couple of sixes around the turn ended Edfors' challenge and he slipped back to finish in fourth place.

Form

Lee Westwood's impressive early-season form continued. The Englishman was second alongside Stenson last week and shot a closing 65 to finish in fifth and stretch his lead at the top of the Order of Merit.

European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo will be pleased that some of his stalwarts are getting points on the board and Colin Montgomerie boosted his hopes of selection (or even qualifying) for Valhalla with a 69 for sixth place.

But it was a disappointing day for inaugural winner Andrew Coltart. The Scot - who lost his tour card last year and was invited as a past champion - started the day in sole possession of second but slumped to a 74 and finished in a tie for 13th.

Frustrating

Even more frustratingly for the 1998 winner, he missed the top-10 finish that would have secured his card by one shot.

Scott said: "Obviously I am pleased to win again in Qatar. I think I like the course here, it suits my style. Stringing off five birdies in a row and then to keep it going was good. It put pressure on the others.

"Henrik did everything right. He deserved to win the tournament. It's hard for the guys who were leading."

Westwood added: "I am very satisfied with my performance. I've been hitting the ball well, didn't putt that well but this week didn't feel like my week.

"I've never really played that great here although I feel I ought to. I struggled on the greens, to read them and get the pace of them."