Double Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie revealed he will be present at next week’s Ryder Cup but as a spectator behind the Gleneagles course ropes.

Lawrie had turned down offers to commentate for either TV or radio and will accompany his wife, Marian spending the weekend in Perthshire and looking forward in particular to following fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher.

“It’s going to feel a bit weird as it’s one of the first times I can remember I will be at a golf course without my golf clubs,” he said.

“Of course, I would have liked playing but then I’m not in so I will look forward to watching.

“I agreed to commentate for TV at the 2010 Ryder Cup but I just feel that TV or radio wasn’t for me and besides I’m not cut out to be a commentator and I knew that early on in my career.

Paul Lawrie insists Stephen Gallacher doesn’t need his help but it prepared to sit down with his fellow Scot to talk about the Ryder Cup. (Photo – www.gplffile.ie)

“I enjoy the on-course studio aspect where they ask you questions, and there’s not a problem doing that but as for live commentating I would find that really difficult.”

And having been to support his beloved Aberdeen side so often in his life, Lawrie is promising to lend plenty of vocal support to Gallacher and his European Team.

“I’ve never been to support at a Ryder Cup so it’s  going to be a different experience when I get there – but I’ll enjoy it, get into it, be pulling for all the boys to play well,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be quite tough, as it always is. The Americans are a little stronger on paper, properly, but that doesn’t matter once you start – it’s always pretty even.

‘I’m a pretty big shouter at Pittodrie, I get right into it. And I’ll absolutely be giving it all of that at Gleneagles, and people won’t recognise me (smiling) as I won’t have the usual gear on with all the sponsors’ badges covering me.”

Lawrie will be a lot more comfortable teeing up in this week’s Wales Open, and an event he captured a dozen years ago.

And during the course of this week’s event Lawrie will sit-down with fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher after getting a call from the Gleneagles rookie.

“Stevie asked me if we could catch-up one evening over a bite to eat, so I’m happy to do that,” said Lawrie.

“He’s done very well and he’s worked really hard for two years and it’s fantastic that he’s made it in.

“But then he doesn’t need me to tell him what’s what but anything he wants to run past me is fine, obviously.

“It’s just whatever he wants to ask. He asked if it was all right to have a sit-down and pick my brains, so it’s not an issue.”

But then how does Lawrie explain the white knuckle, gut-wrenching, nerve-tingling pressure of competing in your first Ryder Cup.

Lawrie not only experienced that pressure in making his debut in 1999 but he was also handed the role of teeing-up first at Brookline.

“You’ve got to experience the nerves of a Ryder Cup to know what it’s like,” said Lawrie.

“But Stevie will deal with it.  He’s been in pressure situations before, he’s won tournaments.

“When he was defending in Dubai, he played with Tiger and Rory so he knows what it’s all about.

“But having said that, he has to magnify those experiences by ten, just to get an idea of the feelings he’ll experience.

“However the crowd will help and he’ll know that most of them are there to watch him, and the first time he plays will be amazing. The place will be bouncing.”

And if there was any advice Lawrie could pass onto Gallacher it would virtually be to ‘take time to smell the Ryder Cup roses’.

“I remember when I played practice rounds with Monty in 1999 and he said that it all happens pretty quickly, so you have to, not slow down exactly, but just take your time, and make your decisions deliberately,” said Lawrie.

“Everything goes by just so quick. Everything is speeded up.  So walk at normal pace, that’s important. You can find yourself rushing off when you’re under pressure.

‘But Stevie will know all that. He doesn’t need me to tell him.  He’ll love the experience, absolutely love it.

“So, he’ll just have a ball of a time and especially with the crowd.  I’m gutted I’m not there competing but delighted for him.”