In what has to be a first for a golfer, former Open Champion Paul Lawrie has had a bus named after him.

Aberdeen’s most celebrated golfer is in the best of form at present having returned to his beloved city with an unprecedented four top-10s in succession dating from last December and capped by victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

So what a timely occasion for Lawrie to be present at FirstGroup Headquarters in Aberdeen for his unusual honour/

Lawrie was asked to unveil the name of a new FirstGroup coach and to his surprise, it has been named ‘Paul Lawrie’.

All aboard the 'Paul Lawrie' bus. (Photo - Thanks to FirstGroup).

FirstGroup, the Aberdeen based transport operator, is one of Paul’s sponsors and celebrated his tremendous recent form by naming a ‘daf temsa safari hd’ coach in his honour.

Initially lost for words, Paul said:  “I’m both astonished and very surprised with the gesture from FirstGroup.

“The company has been hugely supportive over the years, but the last thing I expected on my visit here today was a coach named in my honour.  I am very humbled by the gesture.

“I was also taken aback by the number of FirstGroup staff who came out today to offer their congratulations and best wishes.  It was a good opportunity to thank the company and its staff for their fantastic support.”

FirstGroup’s Marketing Manager, Avril Gill, said “We are delighted to be one of Paul’s sponsors.  We have also supported his Junior Golf Foundation for seven years.  Paul is a tremendous ambassador for golf in Scotland and given his recent achievements we wanted to demonstrate how proud we are of him.”

She continued: “The coach is one of the newest in the fleet and is primarily used for private hire – weddings, shopping trips, holidays and it even transports the Aberdeen FC first team. 

“My hope is that as the coach passes through cities, towns, villages and the countryside throughout Scotland, it will remind people that Paul is one of the finest golfers Scotland has produced.”