Paul Lawrie stressed a shock decision not to contest next month’s U.S. Open is all about cementing his return to the Ryder Cup later this year.
Lawrie admits a move not to tee-up in the June 14th commencing U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco will raise plenty of eyebrows but it’s all to do instead with being on the flight to Chicago in late September.
The former Open Champion confirmed his decision ahead of this week’s 100th anniversary of the Spanish Open in Seville where he will play alongside European Ryder Cup, Jose Maria Olazabal for the first two rounds.
“In fact, I am not going to play the Nordea Masters in Sweden the week before or the U.S. Open because there is a long run of events after that and if I am to miss an event on the schedule then it is the U.S. Open,” he said on the eve of the Spanish Open.
Double Qatar Mastes winner Paul Lawrie in a shock decision not to contest U.S. Open. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“My record in the U.S. Open is not good and I understand that it is a Major but I feel I have more chance of playing well at the BMW International Open the week after the U.S. Open than in a U.S. Open.”
In fact, Lawrie has contested only four U.S. Open’s in his career between 2001 and 2004 but missing the cut in all but one after finishing 30th at Bethpage Park in 2002.
“I know people are going to be surprised when they learn this but I stand more chance of earning Ryder Cup points at the BMW in Cologne then in the U.S. Open in California,” said Lawrie.
“I don’t want to miss a U.S. Open and it’s not just the event but also a bit of a scheduling issue as well as the type of courses they play the U.S. Open on, as my record shows.
“It’s not a course set-up that suits my game so I am going to miss that event rather the BMW International Open.
“The only year I made the cut in a U.S. Open was at Bethpage Black and that year everyone was shooting low despite the weather.
“So it’s a decision I had been thinking about for a long time and I knew it was going to be an issue but if you know you can’t compete in a particular tournament then why go?
“It’s a big call and a lot of people are going to say I should be playing the U.S. Open but you have to do what you feel is best.
“My goal right now is to make the Ryder Cup team so I have to set in place a schedule where I feel I can earn the most Ryder Cup points.
“So not playing the U.S. Open, and instead playing the following week in Cologne is better for me.”
Lawrie indicated the week of the U.S. Open Lawrie he will be kept busy hosting corporate a two-day outing for his Paul Lawrie Foundation at Loch Lomond and a meningitis fund raiser in Aberdeen on the Friday.
However Lawrie’s more immediate concern in Seville was sorting out losing his luggage in transit from South Korea and last week’s Ballantine’s Championship.
He was unshaven in contesting yesterday’s (WED) Pro-Am and was wearing a navy blue Real Club de Golf de Sevilla pullover he had purchase from the Pro Shop.
“I had three flights to get here and my luggage just didn’t make the connections so it’s off to Corte Ingles this afternoon to buy some pants, socks and so on,” added Lawrie.
Lawrie returns to Spain lying fifth overall on the Ryder Cup points table and looking forward to playing the opening two rounds of the Euro 2m event in the company of Olazabal.
“You always learn something playing alongside Jose Maria as he is one of the short-game masters,” said Lawrie.
“I’ve played with him many times before so I am looking forward to the next two days as it’s always good fun.”
