Golf: Lawrie’s long-range putt enough for top prize

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie achieved his first victory since the 1999 Open championship at St Andrews today, winning the Dunhill Links championship with a dramatic 40-foot putt on the final green.

The title was worth a massive £551,040 to the 32-year-old from Aberdeen, who looked set for a play-off with world number four Ernie Els when his pitch to the last spun back into the Valley of Sin.

But, bringing back memories of Costantino Rocca at the 1995 Open and Miguel Angel Martin at last year’s Dunhill Cup, Lawrie did not just get down in two, but holed.

Joint leader with Paul McGinley overnight, the 32-year-old had gone out on his own in front when the Irishman drove into the Swilcan Burn at the first and stayed there all the way to the 17th.

But as he three-putted the 17th - as he did in his third round 63 - Els rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the last. And that meant Lawrie needed a birdie.

He achieved it, but the sigh of relief when he did was as massive as the cheque.