Paul Lawrie brilliantly upstaged his guest and former victorious Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal with an ace in their challenge match yesterday(Tues) in Aberdeen.

The pair played nine holes at the Paul Lawrie Golf Center  in Aberdeen.

And in speaking with the Daily Record Lawrie spoke of his immense desire to return to next year’s Ryder Cup when it will be staged on home soil at Gleneagles and venue for this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship where Lawrie is defending.

“The Ryder Cup really comes into focus this week, not that it is really ever out of focus,” said Lawrie.

“I set my stall out here last year as I badly wanted to play in Jose’s team and that is even more the case when it comes to Paul McGinley’s team because it’s being held here in Scotland.

“I’m desperate to get in. The danger is putting too much pressure on myself but when I did that last time round it had the desired effect.

“I felt I had to get in Jose’s team to have a chance of going for Paul’s team, even just in terms of my position in the world ranking.

“Thankfully I managed to get in and now the points race has started I can hopefully hole a few putts and get up and running.”

Lawrie would never have knocked back the role of captain – and he would love to lead the side in the future.

It might help having his pal Olazabal on the new streamlined selection committee of past captains – although landing an ace at the first hole of their challenge match yesterday might not have been the best way of going about it.

Paul Lawrie upstages guest Jose Maria Olazabal with an ace during the challenge match in Aberdeen. (Photo – www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

The pair delighted the crowds with an exhibition before getting back to more serious matter at Gleneagles.

Lawrie said: “I probably should have let Jose win. They have been talking for quite a while about making the selection panel a smaller group of people.

“They’ve got it right because previous captains know exactly what the job entails and what is required. They are perfectly judged to make the call on where we should be going.

“I was asked a couple of times if I wanted my name put in the frame for the captaincy and I said there would be no harm in it.

“If I get it I would gladly give two years of my life to the Ryder Cup but if I don’t then you knuckle down and try to get in as a player.

“After that you look at other roles such as vice-captain but I would have been happy to do it if I had been offered the job.

“It would be a great honour to be captain but I feel I have at least one more Ryder Cup in me as a player.

“I am going to be fully committed to being there as a player. There’s no reason why not.

Paul Lawrie offers Jose Maria Olazabal a dram of whiskey ahead of their challenge match. (Photo – www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

“I have played poorly by my own standards this year but I have never been fitter or felt better.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle this season. There’s a bit of frustration, only because you expect more but I’m confident everything will click into place.”

There would be no better place to do it than Gleneagles. Lawrie romped to a four-shot win 12 months ago and is hoping to be inspired again this week.

“This is a big week and while it’s been a hectic spell and I’m feeling a bit tired but I am taking next week off so I can concentrate on this one,” said the Scot.

“It’s a great feeling to be going back as defending champion. Obviously it makes things a little bit harder but I am looking forward to it.”