Paul Lawrie will continue playing through the pain barrier at this week’s ISBS Handa Wales Open in the goal of further cementing place in the European Ryder Cup team.
It’s a year ago at Celtic Manor when Lawrie first complained of a ganglion cyst on the top of his left foot.
And while the Aberdonian has been advised to go under the knife, Lawrie has played through the pain barrier since then, and in the process produced some of the best golf of his career.
Paul Lawrie to play through the pain barrier at this week's Wales Open. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
He’s a career-best of 29th in the World Rankings following a share of second in last week’s BMW PGA Championship while he’s second overall in the Ryder Cup points table and fifth on the Race to Dubai.
“When I play through the shot or I am walking on slopes it is a bit uncomfortable,” said Lawrie.
“When it’s raining or it’s damp or it’s a hilly course like Finca where we played the match-play, it was pretty bad there for the week.
“But I get used to it. I get up in the morning take a couple of pain killers so it’s not a big issue.
“As Marian keeps saying to me: ‘Man up, man up?’
“But because of where it is there is a lot of nerves and stuff going on around there, so it’s quite a complicated thing to get it right.
“I am going to leave it for a while and see how we get on.
“It’s not costing me any shots and not affecting my performances and I’ve got used to managing it.
“I just ice it at night and it’s not a huge issue, and if it was a huge issue I would have had it operated on by now.
“I will eventually have to have an operation but not for a long while.”
For a second time in four events Lawrie will play the opening two rounds in the company of European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal.
But unlike the Spanish Open, the Scot will be looking for a far better showing than missing the cut with scores of 78 and 75.
It has been Lawrie’s only ‘missed cut’ all season.
“Jose Maria and I played in Seville together and it is the only real poor two days I’ve had for a long time and it’s amazing how it works,” added Lawrie.
“But I always love playing with Jose Maria as he’s like Seve, as he’s a great chipper of the ball and it’s just nice to watch him play and he’s also great company.”
Lawrie also will tee-up on the 10th anniversary of his 2002 Wales Open success when he stormed to a five-shot success.
“Winning in Wales in 2002 came on the back of winning The Open in ’99 and then the Dunhill in 2001,” he said.
“So it was a nice run for me, and then it took nine years to win again from this event, which is quite a long time.
“But then I am one of these guys who looks forward playing every week and to be fair. I enjoy doing what I do and coming back to a tournament you’ve won before it’s great.
“And my world ranking is now the joint best of my career and a decent week this week and I would go up to 28th and that would be a big achievement.
“Hopefully we can kick on and go further.
“But apart for the Spanish Open I’ve a good run of form now for about the last two years.”
