Bjorn marks 40th in style with Qatar triumph

Ranked only 134th in the world, Bjorn yesterday captured the Commercialbank Qatar Masters by a commanding four strokes from Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.

The 11th Tour victory of his career should put the former Ryder Cup star, who was as high as 10th on the rankings a decade ago, into the elite 64-man field for the Accenture world match play championship in Arizona later this month.

And it is a huge boost to his hopes of earning a place in this July’s Open on the same Sandwich course where he blew a three-shot lead over the closing stretch in 2003.

Bjorn, twice a Ryder Cup vice-captain and current chairman of the Tour’s tournament committee, was thrilled to show he still has what it takes on the course.

“It’s a big win and hopefully it can push me onto bigger things,” he said after signing for a closing 69 and 14-under-par total of 274. “When I play like this I know I can play against the best.”

While world No 1 Lee Westwood missed the cut and No 2 Martin Kaymer came only 28th – he needed a top-two finish to dethrone Westwood – Bjorn did not have a single bogey in his last 47 holes.

Big-hitting Quiros, first and second in the event the past two years, made a back-nine charge and closed the gap to one as Bjorn reeled off 14 pars in a row in the windy conditions. But after Quiros three-putted the 470-yard 15th Bjorn, armed with a new driver that gave him an extra 10 yards, hit a brilliant approach there to within four feet of the flag and then added further birdies on the driveable 16th and par-five 18th.

“I knew if I stuck to my game plan I would be all right,” added Bjorn. “We’re fortunate as golfers that we can keep going at the highest level at this age. I’ve worked hard. I’m seeing the benefits of it and this changes my travel plans a little bit – for the good.”

England’s David Howell returned to something like his old form with a fifth-place finish, while Sergio Garcia, who had slumped from second to 80th, was joint ninth – his best performance for almost a year.

Hull’s Richard Finch led the way for the Yorkshire trio who made it to the last two days, finishing with a 63 to end nine shots off Bjorn.

John Parry, from Harrogate, was one shot further back while Malton’s Simon Dyson endured a poor final two days, ending the event 21 shots behind Bjorn.