Paul Lawrie officially confirmed his return to the European Ryder Cup team in emphatic manner with victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Paul Lawrie plants a kiss on the unique Johnnie Walker Championship trophy. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)

Lawrie’s win not only takes him inside the top-30 on the World Rankings but he becomes the first Scot ever to win three different European Tour events on home Scottish soil – 1999 Open Championship, 2001 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and now a first Johnnie Walker Championship win.

But of more importance Lawrie is returning to the European Ryder Cup team for a first time in 13-years since making his debut in the infamous Battle of Brookline 1999 Ryder Cup.

In doing so, Lawrie is now second on the list of Europeans to have had such a lengthy period between Ryder Cup appearances.

Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Jnr made his Ryder Cup debut in 1975 and it was 14 years before the affable Irishman made his second and only other appearance in 1989.