Former Ryder Cup winning captain, Sam Torrance is confident Paul Lawrie can cement his place in the European Team by just making the halfway cut next week at Gleneagles.
Lawrie heads into the final qualifying currently lying fourth on the European Points table and desperate to end a 13-year European Team appearance drought.
However the Aberdonian will tee-up in the Johnnie Walker Championship will Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Sweden’s Peter Hanson a respective fifth and sixth on the table.
Paul Lawrie looking relaxed in Ohio but facing some anxiety next week at Gleneagles. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
The top-five off the European Points list will automatically qualify and then the top-five onff the secondary World Points list.
Should Lawrie miss the Gleneagles halfway cut he could lose his place on the European Points list if both Molinari and Hanson finish inside the top-10.
Lawrie’s contested the Johnnie Walker Championship on 11 occasions with a best of third in 2009 but also missed the cut twice.
Both Molinari and Hanson have played Gleneagles six time finishing third respectively in 2010 and 2009, and with Molinari missing the cut once and Hanson twice.
But Torrance, who will tee-up in today’s commencing SSE Scottish Senior Open on the course he designed at St. Andrews Bay believing Lawrie will be good to go to Medinah.
“Paul Lawrie is a very, very competent golfer and I’m sure with the way he’s playing Paul should make the cut at Gleneagles,” said Torrance.
“He is going to be a good addition to the team and I would be delighted to see him back in the Ryder Cup.
“He is incredibly cool and he is as cool as a cucumber but he’s got a great golf swing, and seems to be swinging it better than I have ever seen.
“I’ve watched him on the telly and his rhythm while he’s got a fantastic short game and is going to be a great asset to the side.”
And Torrance, who turns 59 next week, recalled how competitive he was 16 years and at the same age of 43 that Lawrie is now.
“I won five three times in my 43rd year and had my best year at 43, so it must be something in the Scottish water, and maybe it’s like whiskey as it is best at 43 years,” said Torrance smiling.
“At 43 I was not thinking of final chances or nothing to lose and you just went out there and did it
“It just came together and maybe it’s experience and maturity. Red wine and whisky.
“But then it’s not imperative to have an old head in the team like Paul but it is an asset.
“There are no rookies in the team at this stage, so they have all played in the Ryder Cup which is a big advantage and that’s fantastic for Jose Maria.”
England’s Barry Lane will defend his title and has promised to again wear tartan trousers for the final round.
And there was the memorable site yesterday at St. Andrews Bay of Lane and eight other Scottish Senior’s competitors, including Torrance and fellow Scots Stephen McAllister, Andrew Oldcorn, Gordon Brand Jnr plus Bill Longmuir decked out in tartan trousers for the Pro-Am.
