Scots star puts plans on hold to sort out career-threatening injury LAWRIE FOOT OP TO SAVE SENIOR TOUR BID
PAUL LAWRIE is set to undergo surgery on the foot injury that threatens to scupper his plans to become a Senior Tour star.
The former Open champion – who has struggled with the career-threatening problem for the past six years – has not played competitively since April.
But he hopes there’s light at the end of the tunnel after consulting leading orthopaedic surgeon Gordon Mackay in an effort to prolong his career.
Lawrie, who is due to turn 50 on New Year’s Day, said: “I have a ruptured tendon on my foot which needs surgery and I’m waiting for the surgeon to get back to me.
“At least we know what’s going on. I’ve seen loads of people about it but this is the first time we’ve got to the bottom of it.
“He says it will be 13 weeks or so after the surgery before I get back and I’m not looking forward to the operation and the recovery. But needs must.
“It’s positive that we know what it is and we’re doing something about it.”
The injury has also impacted on the Aberdonian’s back and pelvis after he ended up manipulating his swing in an attempt to protect his foot.
But he is more optimistic he can avoid further surgery once his left foot has been operated on.
He said: “I saw someone about my back and he said it’s more my pelvis that’s causing the problems.
“We’re not sure yet about the back, whether it requires surgery or just manipulation.
“But hopefully by January we will be fit to go. That’s the plan anyway.”
Having been forced to pull out of both the Scottish Open and The Open at Carnoustie, where he was crowned champion in 1999, Lawrie has been filling his time between broadcasting and his Five Star Sports Agency.
He admits he didn’t enjoy his first stint in front of the cameras at the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.
But he said: “The Open was a lot better. I enjoyed it a lot more and I felt more relaxed.
“I enjoyed doing Radio 5 Live most at Carnoustie, the on- the- course stuff and explaining the shots they were facing. I haven’t been involved in any other broadcasting stuff so far.
“That’s because I need to get my foot done and I didn’t want to take on anything until I know how long it’s going to take to recover.
“But I’ve been really busy with the agency I’m running.
“We signed young Sam Locke and David Law is about to sign.
“I’ve also been looking after my son Craig’s sponsorship and my own for a while.
“And I’ve been thinking if I don’t get back to the level I want to be at then that’s what I will be doing.
“But if my foot recovers we’ll hire somebody to run the company with my input on the side as opposed to full-time.
“But I am actually enjoying it. It’s amazing how much goes into it.
“I have always been a player who just focused on playing and didn’t do the other stuff because I was never good enough to have the distractions.
“The plan for me at the moment is to look after Sam, David, Craig and myself and see how we go.
“Then if we get better at it, if big players feel we can look after them, we’ll do so. But I am going to walk before I run.”
Lawrie also revealed plans are well advanced for a pro-celebrity charity event at Gleneagles that will immediately follow next year’s Scottish Open.
It’s positive we’re doing something about it PAUL LAWRIE