Victory on Sunday and the £139,000 first prize would almost certainly seal his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team when they defend the trophy in Michigan in September.

But it is unlikely to make up for the disappointment at not playing in the first major of the year at Augusta next week, a consequence of being disqualified from the Qatar Masters last month.

“It’s very sad for me,” said Jimenez, who was ninth in the Masters in 2002 and 10th the year before. “It cost me a place in the Players Championship and the Masters.

“I was only five behind the leader and wanted to finish as high as possible to make up the three places in the world rankings I needed.”

Jimenez was eliminated for signing for a wrong score just before he was due to tee off in the final round in Doha after European Tour senior referee Andy McFee studied television coverage of an incident at the 12th hole of the Spaniards third round.

The Malaga golfer, with two wins already under his belt since Ryder Cup qualifying started and 53rd on the world rankings, admitted his ball moved as he played a practice chip after going over the green.

But he felt the ball then came back to its original position and when he told playing partners Brian Davis and Peter Hedblom, they agreed he should continue without penalty.

It was only after the round and after he signed his scorecard that McFee was made aware of the incident by the television production team covering the event, even though mention had been made on the commentary.

He and Jimenez studied the video for an hour on Sunday morning and McFee felt he could not give the benefit of the doubt to the player.

“I’m not calling him a liar at all and I fully accept he thinks it came back to the same position, but I can’t agree with that,” said McFee at the time.

“The movement of the ball was significant (about half a rotation) to the point that I don’t see how it can come back into the original position.

“I have to give the benefit of the doubt to the field, not to the player.”

Jimenez carded six birdies in a flawless round today but Lawrie, European Tour rookie of the year last season, could only add a 71 to his opening 66.

Fellow Irishman Damien McGrane was also seven under with two holes of his second round to play, while Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts moved into a share of second with two birdies in his first three holes.