Paul Lawrie had Spain's Sergio Garcia snapping at his heels after the early stages of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy final round in Doha.

Lawrie, winner of the title in 1999, led by one overnight in an event cut to 54 holes because of Friday's strong winds and resumed with a ten foot birdie putt.

But he parred the next four and Garcia's four birdies in eight holes lifted him into sole possession of second spot on eight under.

Australian Jason Day had been only one behind as well following four opening birdies, but he missed the green at the sixth and bogeyed.

That made him joint third with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet - six under for the day with two to play - and also American John Daly, who birdied three of the first four to re-ignite his bid for a first win in eight years.

Garcia, twice a winner late last season and back in the Official World Golf Ranking's top 20, joined Lawrie at nine under when he pitched to three feet for his fifth birdie of the day on the long tenth.

Gonnet had his sixth birdie in nine holes on the 17th, but lipping out for another on the last gave him a fine 65 and eight under total.

Day and Daly would have joined him with birdies on the par five ninth, but both were in trouble off the tee and ran up bogey sixes to slip three back.

Lawrie was in danger of losing by virtue of his one shot penalty after dropping his ball on his marker on Saturday, but that looked less likely when he chipped in for eagle on the ninth and went two in front again.

Only for a moment, though. Garcia made a seven footer for his sixth birdie on the 11th. They were 11 under and ten under and had the chance to turn it into a two-horse race

Lawrie had to settle for par on the long tenth after driving into sand, but his lead was two once more when Garcia three-putted the 13th - and then three when he pitched to five feet from the rough on the 11th.

Garcia was joined in second place when Day began the back nine with three successive birdies to reach nine under.