It was a case of third time lucky but Ireland’s Peter Lawrie could not contain his excitement in qualifying for next month’s U.S. Open in San Francisco.
Lawrie will now join defending champion, Rory McIlroy, former winner Graeme McDowell and triple Major winning Padraig Harrington in the event starting June 14th on the Olympic course.
Peter Lawrie heading to his first U.S. Open after qualifying at Walton Heath. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Twice before Lawrie had sought to qualify at Walton Heath but at his third attempt he was won through to the season’s second Major.
However Lawrie had to do it the hard and through a five man play-off for four places after he finished tied on six under par with Italy’s Matteo Manassero, England’s Matthew Baldwin, Frenchman Rafael Jacquelin and Korean Shirwan Kim.
It was Kim who bowed out with a bogey at the second extra hole.
“I’m thrilled to be finally playing in a U.S. Open and it will be my first U.S. Major,” said Lawrie.
“I got off to a really good start with a 67 but just started feeling a little tired this afternoon but then I’m standing here having qualified for a U.S. Open.”
But then Lawrie went into the five man play-off running virtually on the smell of an oily rag after having finished fourth a day earlier in the BMW PGA Championship, and a tournament where he secured a best-ever Wentworth finish of fourth.
“I’m very tired after five tough days of golf,” he said.
“But in relation to my career, last week was more important but I am delighted to be playing only my second Major.
“My record in play-offs has not been good as I missed out three times in play-offs at Sunningdale and trying to get into the British Open.
“I led the ‘Driving Accuracy’ stats and the ‘Greens in Regulation’ last week at Wentworth, so I have never swung the club better.”
Lawrie will take his good form now into this week’s Wales Open.
