Luckless Lawrie will need prayer as well as practice to regain Open glory
Paul Lawrie was having just such a day yesterday; having started his round tied for 92nd position on five over, he went on a bit of a tear, reached the turn at two under for the day, three over overall, and the cut in sight.
That was the old Paul Lawrie, the player who shocked the golf world in 1999, came out of nowhere to grind out a most unlikely win in the Open in Carnoustie (well, came out of up the road, drove home every evening, but you know what I mean). Then came a touch of the new Paul, the Paul Lawrie that has struggled for any kind of form on this year’s tour (125th on the tour).
“I hit some very poor shots and just like what’s been happening a lot to me lately, I got penalised harshly for that. Made two bogeys, two doubles in that spell (six over in four holes, 10 to 13) – you’re gone then.”
And so it was that he came to the 15th, nine over, all hope lost in this tournament, then proceeded to carve out a superb drive, not giving a damn for the Maigue all along his right. Strolled after his ball, two hands stuck deep into his pocket, a man deep in his own thoughts.
The Open again, perhaps, in Carnoustie again this year, a couple of months away?
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve living in Aberdeen now, about an hour and ten minutes from the course; been down there a few times, it’s looking in good shape.”
And his form coming into this one, as opposed to 99?
“About the same, very poor; I didn’t play very well coming into the Open the last time it was there, this time it’s no different. Struggling a bit with my game, hopefully we can find something over the next few weeks.”
The 16th is the signature par three, all daunting water from tee to green, flashy Audi invitingly afloat mid-lake for the first to manage a hole-in-one. Something to play for, but immediately he had hit his long iron, Paul baled out of the swing, disgusted.
“A shocking shot, I don’t know how it managed to get to the top of the hill, run down to the pin. A little luck, which I’ve not been getting lately.”
Got his par, onto 17, and a tremendous drive, 335 yards down the middle. Hard by the green, the long, strong but slender pines were being turned and twisted alarmingly, the wind howling from the right.
Having seen his second shot carried well left of the pin by that wind, Paul now stood under those trees, cast a baleful eye skyward. The gods, the all-powerful gods. Eight years ago they decreed that Jean Van de Velde would drop a three-shot lead on the final hole in Carnoustie, that Paul would then go on to win the three-way four-hole playoff against de Velde and American Justin Leonard.
Can it happen again? “Why not? I’ve done it before, you can always do it again.” But, why hasn’t it happened since, not just for Paul, but for any European? That was 30 Majors ago, why no European winner since?
“No idea,” he sighs; “I’ve been asked that question so many times in the last five years, but I’ve no idea. We’ve got plenty of talent on the tour, plenty of guys who can win, it’s just not happening.”
So who might be next — our own Pádraig Harrington perhaps? Perhaps.
“I think he’s got the best chance of everyone on the tour, all the boys — he’s got that self-belief, the work ethic. He’s changed his swing completely, working very hard — the hardest worker out here. It’s nice to see him playing well now.”
Another solid par in his pocket, he goes to the 18th, hits another couldn’t-care-less-about-the-river (to the left) drive; finds the rough again, chops out, another solid par. This guy can play, believe it — he can play. To win a Major, however, you need a little more. You need something divine, and for that, there is no practice. There is only prayer.
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