Peter Lawrie is posed to shed his self-imposed ‘Lastminute.com’ tag with two rounds to play in the 72nd Italian Open at Monza.
Lawrie birdied four holes in succession mid-round to add a five under par 67 to his opening score of 68 and move to nine under par and just four shots from the front on the Milano Golf Club course.
The Scandinavian pair of Jens Fahrbring of Sweden (64) and Luca Bjerregaar of Denmark (65) share the lead by two shots on 13-under par.
Peter Lawrie and golf’s ‘lastminute.com’ man ready wrap up his card for 2016. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
However the biggest threat has to be double Major winning Martin Kaymer shooting a 66, and despite just managing some four hours sleep, to move to a share of seventh spot at 10-under par.
“I seemed to be awake all night clock watching and for some reason just could not get to sleep properly,” said Kaymer.
Lawrie is contesting his 24th event this season but in a continuing season of uncertainty he only learnt on Monday he was in the Italian field.
It meant missing the birthday today (FRD) of eight year old daughter ‘Millie’ but on day he assured himself a 12th pay cheque this season.
However 14 of the tournaments Lawrie has contested have been on an invitation while one, the Spanish Open, he was exempt as a former champion.
And he arrived in Monza in 121st on the Race to Dubai rankings and just inside the top-125 end-of-season cut-off mark for Tour membership, and in what Lawrie said at this stage is really his last Tour event of 2015.
“I’m golf’s ‘Lastminute.com’ man as it’s been like this every week this year as I have been virtually the last man into tournaments on invitations,” he said.
“There has been just once and that was for the BMW International through Paul McGinley’s help where I was informed well beforehand I would receive an invitation while I was exempt for the Spanish Open I won in 2008.
“Then in the other nine when I have got in on my own merits it has just been a a couple of days notice like this week.
“However a top-five finish this week should sort me out for next year as I am, at this stage, into zero events for the remainder of the year.
“So each week this year has been like a tooth ache.
“You know it’s there, it’s sore but there is nothing you can really do about it and all you can do is just keep on going and hopefully if I do get my card back for next year, I can go to the dentist and get the tooth pulled.”
Padraig Harrington eagled the 16th for a second day running, and in a second straight 70 to make the four under par cut right on the mark.
Also at four under par was Paul McGinley who birdied the last in a 72 while Darren Clarke matched Harrington’s pair of 70s to also be assured of four paying rounds.
