Lawrie adds to European team’s feel-good factor

The ‘Rory McIlroy effect’ continued with Scotland’s Paul Lawrie delivering the European Ryder Cup team its third victory in as many weeks.

Lawrie ended a 13-year team absence to cement his place in the European side with a resounding four-stroke victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The 43-year old Scot, who will be the oldest European member heading to Medinah next month, carded a last round 68 to win with a 16-under par tally on the course hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Australia’s Brett Rumford, winner of the 2004 Irish Open, secured his best finish since a similar second place result two years ago in the Gleneagles event in signing for a 68 for a 12-under-par total.

“Rory [McIlroy] winning the PGA Championship is a huge lift for the team and for a European to win the last Major is massive,” said Lawrie.

“But it wasn’t long ago that the American team were playing better than our team, no question. So slowly but surely the last two, three, four weeks, the European boys have kicked on a little bit and had a couple of good wins, starting with Rory at Kiawah. I would hope that would be huge for our team, winning the last Major, and hopefully a big advantage to us.”

Lawrie’s return to the Ryder Cup is now the second longest period between team appearances with Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Jnr the longest in making his debut in 1975 at Laurel Valley, Pennsylvania, before returning in 1989 at The Belfry.

Olazabal is set to announce his two wild card picks at noon today, with a survey among some two dozen players competing in Scotland suggesting the Spaniard will choose Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts.