The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Key to Ryder Cup profit
The work as a vicecaptain is intense, but Aberdeen golfer Paul Lawrie is relishing his role as he tastes the Ryder Cup experience as part of the backroom staff.
Lawrie played in Ryder Cups 13 years apart in 1999 and 2012 – the biggest gap of any player in history. Both were in America and were arguably the two most dramatic in history.
At Brookline for the US comeback from 10-6 down and Medinah for Europe’s epic victory four years ago, what happened behind the scenes did not occur to the Scot.
“As a player, I knew very little of what was going on behind the scenes and didn’t really want to know the arrangements or what the vice-captains were talking about,” said Lawrie, one of Darren Clarke’s three initial picks as vice-captain.
“As a player, all you want to know is what time you have to be there, knowing everyone else has taken care of all the arrangements for the week.
“But this time, there’s a lot to do, and it’s amazing. While Darren is in charge and has the final say, he runs things past the vicecaptains much more than I thought.
“We’re on a Whatsapp group and every day there are messages. It’s a lot more work than I thought it would be but that’s not a moan as I am really enjoying it. I’m involved much more than I thought.
“And there’s great banter among all the vicecaptains. Sam Torrance is really good, as is Padraig Harrington, while Darren has always been a bit of a wind-up merchant. It’s been brilliant fun.”
The feeling of anticipation is much different for Lawrie, knowing the pressure to perform is not there.
“All I can do is chat to the players and help prepare them the best I can by passing on my experience,” he added. “There are players on the team who have way more experience than me when it comes to the Ryder Cup, but there are also a lot of young players and rookies in the team who the vicecaptains can help.
“The two matches I played in were both away from home. The only Ryder Cup I know as a player is the one these rookies are going to face and I think that was one of the reasons Darren asked me to be a vicecaptain.
“As a player all you are bothered about is your match, in fact they drum into you that all you can influence is the game you are playing at the time.
“As a vice-captain you have a radio in your ear and know how every game is going.”
Lawrie’s experiences of the hostile environment at Brookline and Medinah are also likely to come in useful to the European cause.
“I’ve never experienced a home Ryder Cup as a player. I was at Gleneagles as a spectator and it was loud and noisy,” he said. “But I definitely think playing away from home is that much harder.
“There were incidents in both the matches I played in that were over the top, but they were still great experiences and good to be part of.
“More than any other event, players have to stand up and be counted in a Ryder Cup. There are got 11 team-mates who are relying on you to bring home a point and it’s quite frustrating when you don’t.
“Players will get down on themselves and it’s quite hard because we know how important the Ryder Cup is to the Tour. But the only way to deal with the pressure and the crowd is by making birdies. That’s the only way to quieten them.
“I’ve tried to pass that on to the younger players I’ve spoken to. Players have got to enjoy it and can’t go out there feeling pressure or feeling tight.
“Players have got to love it as they will not have a better experience in their life than the Ryder Cup. That’s all I can pass on to them.”
“All I can do is chat to the players and help prepare them the best I can”