MARC WARREN is one round away from becoming the fourth Scottish-born Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion.
The 33-year-old dropped just one shot and accrued six birdies to card a five under 67 yesterday and join a trio of his title rivals on 13-under par. South African Branden Grace, who birdied the last in 68, Argentina's Emiliano Grillo and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria also share the lead.
Should he fend of each of them to collect the trophy then Warren may allow his mind to wander west to Miami and a chance to compete in next month's WGC - Cadillac Championship in Miami.
For now his focus rests at Doha Golf Club. As he pursues success the Scot can consider himself in good company, with one of his compatriots in the field a past winner; Paul Lawrie winning the event first in 1999 and again in 2012. Andrew Coltart had delivered Scotland's first triumph in the inaugural Qatar Masters in 1998.
Warren is now close to getting his hands on one of the more spectacular golfing trophies away from the majors. "The Claret Jug is the greatest trophy in golf but the Mother of Pearl trophy to be handed out tomorrow is pretty special," said the Rutherglen-born golfer, whose closest compatriots are Lawrie and Scott Jamieson who share 45th place.
"There's already a bit of Scottish history at this event what with Andy and Paul winning and it would be great if I can add my name under theirs."
The greatest threat to the Scot's ambitions of success will likely come from Grace, a five-time Tour winner who captured last month's Alfred Dunhill Championship and the second event of the 2014/15 wraparound schedule.
Warren has shown impressive form, however, commencing his round one behind 36-hole leader Wiesberger before birdies at the second, sixth and ninth holes took the Scot in front on the leaderboard. He then birdied 10 before dropping his only shot of the day at the 14th.
He recovered well, bouncing back with consecutive birdies at 15 and the short 16th. "I just misjudged the lie a little bit on 14 but came up short of the green, so to then birdie the next two was really pleasing," said Warren.
However, after missing the green on the 18th Warren was left staring at the ground after his third shot skewed left and below the hole. The Scot was left to two-putt for par.
"If it was lying better I would have used a lob-wedge but it was sitting against the grain and I was actually thinking of putting the ball, but I decided to hit a 7-iron chip-and run," he said. "I just mistimed it a little bit but I then had a relatively easy uphill two-putt for par."
Warren is not only also to looking to capture a fourth Tour title but also become the first Scot to win and event since his own victory in August's Made In Denmark title. "I'm now very excited about what lays ahead, as the last few years I have been in contention more regularly," Warren added.
"To win in Denmark was great and I still glean a lot of confidence from that victory, as it's still fresh in my mind. But all I will be doing is trying to play the best I can and concentrating hard on what I am doing. If someone shoots a lower score than me than good luck to them. Really I have nothing to lose."
If Warren succeeds on the Doha Golf Course then he is certain to make a significant leap from his current world ranking spot of 71 to rest just outside the top-50. If so, he can then turn his thoughts to contesting the WGC - Cadillac Championship and also consider the likelihood, should he then break into the top-50 by the end of March, of teeing up for a first time in the Masters.
Meanwhile, Stephen Gallacher - who is tied in 632nd place in the Qatar MAsters - has been drawn to play alongside world No.1 Rory McIlroy in tomorrow's $500,000 Abu Dhabi Invitational at Yas Island Links in the UAE capital. The duo are among 53 European Tour players, alongside two members of the Ladies European Tour which include Carly Booth, and a young Australian-born pro competing in the Pro-Am. Also in the field is defending champion Richie Ramsay, Sandy Lyle and Chris Doak. Craig Lee is first reserve.
McIlroy will be looking to win for a first time in Abu Dhabi after four previous second-place finishes, including the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship a week ago.
Gallacher also finished in front of the Northern Irishman for three days running on route to success in last year's 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic.
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