Stop slow play

“I have things I can do, I don’t have to play golf,” he said. “But I love playing golf, that’s what I’ve always done. I think I’m OK now to crack on, and I think I’ll be a good senior.”

The new event, on July 15 – the Monday of Open week – is a pro-cel-am event featuring 22 four-balls, two of each being corporate amateurs. The pros will be European Tour players, the celebrities so far signed up include Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and former Scotland rugby stars Rory Lawson and the Evans brothers, Max and Thom.

“I am delighted to have Eric Herd, of Farmfoods, on board as the main sponsor, and we also have Brewdog as a premier partner and they are on board for the Scottish Par 3 Championship as well, as is Eric,” added Lawrie.

“We’ll have a shotgun start on the PGA Centenary Course followed by a gala dinner in the ballroom at night, and Marian and I have used my sponsorship deal at Gleneagles to get the rooms and the green fees, so there are no real expenses. Everything we raise is going to be given away.”

Lawrie’s own foundation will get 50% of the expected six-figure sum raised, a quarter will go to Doddie Weir’s foundation and another 25% to the Beatson Institute.

“We think it is a great way to raise money and we are delighted it is at Gleneagles,” said Lawrie. “It is a great location in the middle of the country and we are looking forward to it hugely. I will play in one of the teams.

“Probably half of the teams have been sold already, so it’s been a nice response already from the corporate community.”