Bjorn closes fast for lead in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Thomas Bjorn closed Saturday's round with three consecutive birdies for a 1-stroke lead heading into the final round of the European Tour's Qatar Masters.

The birdie string capped Bjorn's third-round, 6-under 66 that moved him to 11-under 205 after 54 holes. Second-round leader Markus Brier had an 18th-hole bogey that dropped him into second place at 10-under for the tournament after a 3-under 69 Saturday.

Robert Karlsson (69 Saturday) is in third at 8-under and Thomas Aiken (69) is fourth at 7-under. Richard Finch (71) and Alvaro Quiros (66) are tied for fifth, five strokes behind Bjorn.

Brier had five birdies and two bogeys on the day. Both bogeys came on par 5s, including the 629-yard ninth hole and the 589-yard 18th. He had birdied those holes three of the four times he played them in the first two rounds.

Bjorn opened his tournament with a 2-over 74 Thursday but pulled into contention with a 65 Friday that included five consecutive birdies in one stretch. He was 2-under after 13 holes Saturday. After a birdie at the 14th and a 15-hole par, he closed with three birdies.