Lawrie in the twilight zone as he seeks senior solace
PAUL LAWRIE fears that he is no longer capable of adding to his haul of European Tour titles as he eyes a return to the scene of his 1999 Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie this summer. Lawrie, who turns 50 on January 1, says he is no longer sufficiently competitive to expect to sustain a four-round challenge against players who are half his age in some cases.
But the popular Aberdonian, who won the last of his eight titles in 2012 at the Johnny Walker Championship at Gleneagles to qualify for the Ryder Cup team, is not at all resentful that his time is seemingly up on the main circuit.
‘I would like to think that I could not have been a better player,’ he explained. ‘I’ve given it everything. Had I been someone who’d left a bit out there and partied too much, I’d be sitting here feeling different, but I feel I’ve been the best I could have been and if you are that, then you are okay with it.’
He claims he was taken by surprise when the realisation dawned on him that his days as a European Tour winner were over.
He said: ‘Unfortunately, I see myself now in the twilight of my regular career. I’ve not been competitive for a wee while, although I have the odd week when I feel as though I can compete.
‘It’s all happened pretty quickly as even 18 months ago I felt I could win. But now I am at the stage where making the cut is a half decent week and I never thought that would be the case.
‘My mentality is never to go to a tournament just hoping to make the cut but that’s the reality of where I’m at. You have to face up to it. Like everyone does, you wake up one day and get out of bed feeling stiff so competing with these young boys is tough.
‘Watching Rory McIlroy hitting it 325 yards in the air over bunkers without any bother, man it’s impressive.
‘Realistically, an event like The Open is a level that is probably a bit beyond me.
‘Even though I feel I can still contend the odd week on certain courses, including events on links, my expectations are less, definitely.’
But Lawrie, appointed an ambassador for the inaugural European Golf Team Championships at Gleneagles in August, is not ready to wander off into the sunset. Far from it.
He revealed: ‘I am looking forward to having a second go, as a senior, so it’s important that I stay competitive this year as I feel as though I could win on that circuit on a regular basis.”
Lawrie is not fully exempt for the Champions Tour but he has been encouraged by the reaction of those officials he has spoken with following changes to certain qualification rules.
‘I think they are quite keen to get some European major winners on the circuit and playing between ten and 12 events in the States would be my ideal schedule,’ he said.
‘I don’t think it was Colin Montgomerie’s intention to play full-time on the Champions Tour when he first went but he loved it, played well and stayed and that might be the case for me — or I might not like it.
‘But I spoke with Sam Torrance and he said it’s the best he has ever played on.
‘I wasn’t a huge fan of playing full-time in America after I’d won The Open but I think the PGA Tour is phenomenal and the Champions Tour is the same.
‘But I am also still going to play a few main European Tour events.’
The foot injury that has plagued him in recent years continues to be a problem, but Lawrie is resigned to living with it.
He added: ‘It is no different. I went to see a foot specialist in Germany towards the end of last year but it’s not made much difference.
‘But if that means I can only hit 50 balls a day compared to what I used to, I’m okay with that. The great thing about the seniors is that they play three rounds in most events with no cut so that will be helpful.’