Alexander Levy backed to 'come back stronger' after Qatar disappointment

Alexander Levy has been backed to "come back stronger" by his fellow professionals after lipping out twice at the end of his second round to miss the cut at the 2023 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

The Frenchman started the week 124th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, knowing a strong result would be needed if he was going to sneak into the top 116 and keep his DP World Tour card.

Returning to the course early on Saturday morning to complete his second round, Levy started the day on three over par after following up an opening 73 with three bogeys and one birdie in the first seven holes of round two before fading light suspended play on Friday.

But he mounted a back-nine fightback, birdieing the tenth, 12th and 16th to give himself an outside chance of making the cut, with the par-three 17th and long 18th to come.

And he came agonisingly close to producing late fireworks as he cruelly lipped out for a hole-in-one on the 17th before his long birdie try on the 18th also lipped out, ending his chances of finishing in the top 116 on the Rankings.

Levy, a five-time winner on the DP World Tour, said: "I gave everything I had today. It's golf, it's such a difficult game when it's not going your way.

"But I gave everything I had, I just gave 100 per cent. It was close to going my way but it didn't today. That's life.

"I lipped out for a hole-in-one and on 18 a massive lip-out on my putt.

"Golf can go quick in both ways. I'm just going to practise and try my best the next few weeks. I know I will play a few tournaments at the start of the year, I will try to get ready for that and we'll see what happens.

"But if I give what I did on the last nine holes, and I follow this path, I think good things are going to come."

DP World Tour stars were quick to rally round the popular 33-year-old, with Marcel Siem and Julien Brun sending messages of support on social media.

Siem wrote on Instagram: "You will come back stronger my friend. You are a fighter, super nice guy and a super talented golfer.

"Some really tough breaks out there for you today unfortunately.

"Will be even sweeter when it turns around and things are starting to go your way again. You will be back on top soon."

Brun wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Great insight from Alex minutes after losing the card! Hope he gets his card back via Q-school."