Paul Lawrie is a world top-50 golfer again after a flawless performance gave him victory in the Qatar Masters in Doha.

The 43-year-old Scot, known as "Chippy", chipped in twice during a brilliant closing 65 and beat Australian Jason Day and Swede Peter Hanson by four strokes.

Less than a year ago, the 1999 Open champion was 272nd in the rankings. Now he is part of golf's elite group again, and the success guarantees him a place in the Accenture World Match-play championship in Arizona later this month and Volvo World Match Play in Spain in May.

He is also on course to win a second Ryder Cup cap, 13 years after his first. If he can stay in the top 50 for another seven weeks he will make a return to The Masters at Augusta in April.

"I don't think I can play much better than that," said Lawrie, having finished with a 15-under-par total in an event cut to 54 holes because of bad weather.

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

Lawrie 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."

As for the Ryder Cup, Lawrie said: "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."

Hanson caught Day by pitching in for eagle on the 16th and matching his two-putt birdie on the last. They finished second and third, while Lawrie's fellow-countryman, Scott Jamieson, ended up nine shots off the pace after a closing 68.