The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wentworth goal for Lawrie
Scots golfer Paul Lawrie feels there is more to come from him this week as he prepares to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
PAUL LAWRIE knows how well he can play this year – because people keep patting him on the back when he feels he doesn’t deserve it, writes Steve Scott, golf correspondent.
The renaissance of the 1999 Open champion in the last 18 months has been one of the feel-good stories in Scottish golf, welcomed by most fans north of the border but their praise has the Aberdonian nonplussed.
Lawrie feels there is much more to come this week at the BMW PGA Championship, and especially with his goal of a Ryder Cup place ahead.
Only at the weekend his semi-final placing in the Volvo World Matchplay in Spain got widespread approval but the Qatar Masters champion admitted he was “absolutely raging” after his last four defeat to eventual winner Nicolas Colsaerts.
“That was the worst I have ever been coming off the course,” he admitted.
“I was four up and should have closed it out. The forecast for the afternoon final was for high winds, which was right up my street, so that made it worse.”
Lawrie stormed past the waiting media at the end of the game and apologised later, admitting “it was a poor show from me”.
“I was asked to stop and speak but I just couldn’t face it,” he continued. “Certain people do that a lot but I don’t. I just felt if I had won the match play I would have been almost there for the Ryder Cup.
“People are being nice and saying well done, and it was the same after the Masters, when I got home people were patting me on the back for finishing 24th.
“It was strange because all I felt was disappointment because it could have been so much better.”
Lawrie certainly likes the support and appreciates the respect he is getting but his expectations are greater.
“Maybe that is a good thing, it shows where my mind is at right now,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, it has been going really good but it could have been unbelievable.
“Apart from a wee spell last summer, I have been consistent and close almost every week.”
Lawrie admits he should have done better at Wentworth, a second place in 1996 and sixth in 2010 his best performances, and it is 20 years since he won the prize for best PGA pro in the field.
He added: “This would be a great week to keep the form going, it was disappointing to miss the cut last year but I know the course well.”
It would also push Lawrie into a position to make the Ryder Cup team for the second time, 13 years on from his first.
“It is impossible to avoid it because it is all everyone talks about.
“There have been a couple of times when I have said I was not thinking about it and (wife) Marian has said, ‘yeah, right’.
“She’s right, as usual. I just try to keep chipping away each week and keeping reminding myself I am not in the team yet. As you think you are, the performances could fall away.
“Mentally I view it that I have an awful lot of work still to do.”
That work will not be at the US Open at Olympic in San Francisco next month however, a big point counter towards the rankings but a championship Lawrie has opted not to enter.
“If I had a goal it would be the Ryder Cup but missing that week makes sense.
“I would have to miss Cologne, I would be away the week before and the week after, so scheduling would be a nightmare.
“And by not playing I am fresh coming up to The Open. I suppose it would have been easier to just go and play but I just felt it was worth it to take the flak and do it the way I wanted.”