Sir Alex Ferguson could be receiving Paul Lawrie’s tools of trade quicker than the former Manchester United manager thought.
Ferguson is paying Lawrie £5,000 for the clubs he also used to play in last year’s Ryder Cup, and including the wedge he used at Medinah to chip-in at the fifth hole in his match against US rival Brandt Snedeker.
And while the money is going into Lawrie’s Foundation, Ferguson could be taking delivery of the 14 clubs sooner rather than later following Lawrie’s three over par 75 on day one of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie selling his Ryder Cup winning clubs to Sir Alex Ferguson. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Lawrie said: “It is very nice of Sir Alex and a nice touch.
“They’re the clubs I am using at the moment, last year’s set, so as soon as I am finished with them he will get them.
“I will bill him now (laughing) and he will get the clubs later but seriously it is nice of him, and it’s for the Foundation. He always presents us with auction items to raise money for the Foundation, and he’s done it every year.
“Even the club I used for the chip-in at Medinah, a Wilson FG Tour 60-degree wedge, so that will be in the set Fergie gets, for sure.
“None to be honest and besides if it raises money for the kids from the north-east of Scotland than I am happy to sell.”
Lawrie birdied two of his closing three holes but sticking out like a sore thumb is a triple bogey at the par five, 14th hole where the Aberdonian snap-hooked his drive into a hazard.
He said: “Take that seven away and I am running level par considering I was driving it poorly, so it’s a fair effort.
“I just drove the ball terrible today and one of the worst driving displays for a long time, and it was a pity.
“I had been driving the ball lovely and I just kept hitting it in the wrong place including right off one, right off three, left off nine, and you just can’t go in these places and make par.
“So the putting stroke is better but the driving is wonky. There you go, that’s golf.
“But over it was a tough day and I ended up three over and it was a decent score considering the way I played in conditions.”
South African James Kingston heads the flagship event after shooting a six under par 66.
