Carnoustie return inspires Lawrie

REVISITING SCENE OF 2001 DUNHILL GLORY EVOKES SPECIAL MEMORIES FOR FORMER OPEN CHAMPION

By Michael Gannon

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Paul Lawrie is hoping a family trip down memory lane can be the inspiration as he looks to retrace his steps of former glories in the north-east this week.

The Dunhill Links champion-ship gives Lawrie the opportunity to revisit the scenes of his greatest triumphs Carnoustie, the venue of his Open triumph in 1999 and St Andrews, where he lifted this trophy in its inaugural year in 2001.

It does not take much to evoke the old feelings but Lawrie admitted his return to Carnoustie, where he won that dramatic play-off against Justin Leonard and Jean Van de Velde 10 years ago, had added significance. He said: “Whenever you drive up to Carnoustie it is always that bit different.

“It is the same when I come back to St Andrews as I have special memories here after winning the first Dunhill Links championship.

“But I took my boys and my nephew Sean down to Carnoustie for the first time last week, the wind was blowing as usual but they loved it.

“The course is in great shape, it was immaculate last week as it always is.

“It was quite weird taking them.

“They are getting old enough to ask proper questions about 1999 and I really enjoyed it.

“There were asking ‘where were you on this hole?’ and ‘what were you thinking here?’ and so on. They are mature enough to know what is going on, they are proper golfers now and it was good fun.”

Lawrie is hoping a combination of his local know-ledge and his expertise when it comes to playing in abysmal weather can work to his advantage this week.

He said: “It certainly helps your chances when you know the courses well and you have done well on them before.

“I enjoy links golf, playing in the wind and rain at St Andrews is proper golf.

“This is an event I enjoy, I get to take my main sponsor Martin Gilbert, it is never dull that is for sure.

“This is a ball-striker’s event, you only need to look at the list of past winners including Padraig Harrington, who has won here a couple of times, and Colin Montgomerie.

“It is not so much a putter’s week.

“I do not get out of bed hoping it is blowing a gale, but I do not mind the wind or knocking the ball down.

“Yesterday was almost too nice, the scoring would be extremely low so I would like it to be a bit windier.”

The slight swing changes instigated by coach Bob Torrance have solidified an already admirable technique, but it is the putter which remains Lawrie’s Achilles.

Lawrie, who tees off at St Andrews today alongside amateur partner Martin Gilbert from Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “My game has been brilliant from tee to green for a long time, but my putting has been dreadful.

“I was second in greens in regulation but last in putting, so that tells you the way it has been going. I spent last week doing a lot of work on short putting on my green at home, I must have made hundreds every day until my back was killing me.

“The idea is you gain confidence from seeing them go in, so we will wait and see.”

Lawrie is gearing up for his final push in the Race to Dubai. Currently 75th in the standings, the 40-year-old needs to finish inside the top 60 to claim a place in the end-of-season showpiece in the Middle East.

He said: “There is a bit of work to do. I am playing in the next four events so hopefully by the end of them I will be comfortably in the top 60.

“The way I am playing tee to green it is certainly possible. Even if I improve by one putt per day I think I am capable of winning.

“It will not take much, but I am 75th for a reason. I have not been good enough so far but hopefully I can jump up in these next four weeks.

“Everyone wants to be in Dubai and I will do whatever it takes to get there.”