Paul Lawrie now faces an anxious three weeks Augusta National qualifying wait after a chest infection has forced him to withdraw from his defence of this week’s Andalucian Open.
Lawrie is currently lying 45th on the World Rankings and will need to remain inside the top-50 as the close of competition on April 1st to be assured of returning to the Masters for a first time since 2004.
The Scot was seen to be doubled over in pain prior to the start of last Sunday’s final round of the WGC – Cadillac Championship in Miami.
Lawrie sought the advice of a tour official indicating he was considering withdrawing but was advised if he did his last place prize money would not count towards the Race to Dubai and more importantly towards hopeful Ryder Cup selection.
So Lawrie played through the discomfort shooting a final round 77 that included a pair of double bogeys to end the event in a share of 60th place.
Paul Lawrie now facing an anxious three week Augusta wait after illness forced him to withdraw this week from the defence of his Andalucian Open. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“I was not feeling too welll last week and was up coughing most of Saturday night. I was going to pull out today until I found out you have to complete four rounds for the money to count on the order of merit and Ryder Cup points so I decided to cough and splutter my way round, eventually shooting 77. ”
Lawrie felt no better in returning home and instead advised Andalucian Open officials he would be resting this week in lieu on competing on the Aloha course.
Unfortunately Lawrie’s caddy, Davy Kenny did not learn the news until his arrival today into Malaga Airport, and it has meant staying the night on the Costa del Sol and heading back on the Easyjet flight to Glasgow later tomorrow (WED),
“It’s pretty disappointing for Paul but if you had of seen him on Sunday he was lucky to have played at all so to shoot 77 was a good score given the way he was feeling,” said Kenny.
“He’s now got a few weeks off before hopefully qualifying for Augusta so he should be fine.”
But while Lawrie dropped one place last week in the world rankings he should be assured of taking a long overdue drive back down Magnolia Lane given he is not defending ranking points.
With still three weeks to the year’s first Major Lawrie will remain in Aberdeen and has declined to contest either of the last two Race to Dubai events in Europe namely the Hassan 11 Trophy in Morocco or the Sicilian Open.
Also forced out of this week’s Tour event on the Costa del Sol is double Augusta winning Jose Maria Olazabal that could put him in doubt to the Masters.
Olazabal is struggling with a right foot injury and after consulting a doctor on Monday was advised to rest the foot ahead of his next event, the April 5th commencing Masters.
However if Olazabal should not be fit to take his place in the field it is expected the Spaniard will still travel to Augusta to be present at what will surely be an emotional ‘Champions Dinner’ on the Tuesday night.
It will be the first Masters since the death last May of similar double Augusta National winning Seve Ballesteros.
