Lawrie is right at home after Scottish title win
PAUL LAWRIE won the Scottish Senior Open to the delight of the home crowd at Craigielaw Golf Club yesterday. The 1999 Open champion battled gusty conditions in the final round to record a level-par 71 to win his maiden over-50s title by two shots from Peter Baker and Peter Fowler. The Scotsman, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Major success at Carnoustie Golf Links last month, made the turn on 33, two under par and fought the elements on the back nine to card a brave 71 for victory. After battling injury last season and having turned 50 at the beginning of the year, Lawrie was delighted to clinch an inaugural over-50s win on home soil. ‘That is my fourth win in my home country,’ he said. ‘Players struggle in their own country with expectations on them, but I’ve always felt comfortable playing in front of Scottish people. It doesn’t matter what tour it is, winning is difficult. Peter Baker did a top effort to get in the clubhouse at level par, so my job was to get in at one under par. That was the only job I was thinking about and I managed to finish one better than that. ‘I’ve not won since 2012 on the European Tour. Obviously, I’m a senior now and I want to be one of the top players on the tour. This win is a massive step to doing that.’ Lawrie questioned if his career was over due to injury but he thanked his surgeon for getting him back in business. He said: ‘The Senior Open was the first week where I felt my foot and my back were where I needed them to be. I thought my career was over with my foot the way that it was, but my surgeon Gordon McKay did a great job.’