Staying grounded is key for Locke says Lawrie

PAUL LAWRIE will sit Sam Locke down today and tell him not to become too big for his boots on the back of winning the Open silver medal as leading amateur.

The 1999 Open champion is Locke’s employer and mentor and has a weekly catch-up with his protege at the golf facility where the 19-year-old practises. “He works in the coffee shop when he’s not playing. It’s just a fantastic story,” said Lawrie. “Not only did he win the silver medal, he was the only Scot to make the cut. It was a phenomenal performance. “The difficult thing, and we want to be careful, is that we don’t want to go totally overboard on this, and he needs to know that. “He has a long way to go, and I don’t want that to sound patronising or to shoot him down but my job now is to have a chat with him and tell him, ‘Right Sam, you’ve won the silver medal, you’ve done brilliantly, but this is where we are’.

“I’m not saying he needs that kind of a chat but that’s my job now having been through it myself, good and bad.”

The Scottish Amateur champion posted a 78 yesterday, but having been the only amateur to make the cut was guaranteed the medal Rory McIlroy won when the Open was last staged at Carnoustie. “It’s really nice to know you are following in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in golf,” said Locke.

“If I keep working hard and I’m doing what I’m doing there’s no reason why I can’t become a big name.”

Locke must now decide whether to strike while his irons are hot and turn professional or remain amateur and play in the Walker Cup next year.

“I need to have a think and make a proper decision,” he said.