Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal declared Paul Lawrie’s ‘looking good’ to make a return to the European Team.
Lawrie jumped to fourth on the Ryder Cup points table on the back capturing a second Qatar Masters title and his fourth top-10 in succession.
Olazabal caught up with the double winning Qatar Masters champion on Tuesday while practicing on his putting ahead of Dubai Desert Classic to congratulate him on his four-stroke success in Doha.
Paul Lawrie (second from right front row) as a member of the hapless 1999 Ryder Cup side.
“Paul’s looking good, he’s looking real good and while congratulating him, I just said to keep up the good work and maybe we could be seeing him heading to Medinah,” he said in Dubai.
Olazabal played in the same 1999 Brookline losing side as Lawrie while he also captained the 2009 Royal Trophy European side in Thailand that Lawrie was a member.
And Lawrie was impressive on debut in securing 3 1/2 points for Europe including the Singles scalp of Jeff Maggert winning his match 4 & 3.
“Brookline was Paul’s first and only Ryder Cup and, apart from the outcome, I know he really enjoyed the week,” said the Spaniard.
“It was a tough day on that Sunday but I’ve always said that Paul is a very solid player, and he’s very good around the greens and on the greens and that’s why he’s called ‘chippy’.
“So I have always seen Paul as a very solid player and he is the type of player who need to have on a Ryder Cup team, and players who you can combine and pair with other players.”
Lawrie dedicated his second Qatar Master victory to the memory of his late coach, Adam Hunter and despite the tragedy Olazabal believed it’s been the catalyst for his current run of four straight top-10s.
“What happened last year, and even though it was very hard on him, losing his close friend might be related to what we are seeing now in his game,” added OLazabal.
“Paul has been playing well ever since Adam passed away. He had a great end to his season here in Dubai in December, and he played solid to start the new season.
“Then to win last week has already has been an extraordinary season for him.
“That is the type of player I see in him.”
Lawrie’s win also has more than likely opened the door for the Aberdonian to contest the four Majors this year and also the four WGC’s commencing with next fortnight’s $US 8.5m Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona.
“It is going to be very important for Paul to be in the Majors and the WGCs because first of all the Ryder Cup points are huge,” he added.
“But then guys like Paul who have already won over one million Euro in the qualifying period already are well on the way, and by getting into those events you only have to play half-decent you’re going to increase your points.
“So if Paul stays inside the top-50 he’s got three WGCs and four Majors still to play in the qualifying period to make the team.
“You’re not going to make the team if you’re not into those seven bigger events.
“And even with Paul being into his 40s makes no difference.
“You have to remember Raymond Floyd was 50 when he beat me in ’93 in the Singles at the Belfry so age is just a number.”
Lawrie’s found himself being congratulated at every turn since his seventh Race to Dubai success.
And among those ‘texting’ was former England, Newcastle and Blackburn star, Alan Shearer.
“I’ve had quite a few emails and text messages and I didn’t know I knew that many people,” said the Scot.
“It’s nice and I’ve had a lot through my Foundation.
“I also received a nice message from Alan Shearer and I guess he still has my phone number because I met him a few times some years back.
“I was a bit tired after hosting a company day on Monday but after a good night’s sleep Monday and Tuesday I feel great.
“It’s been such a nice run for a while and even though I’ve had this great run since last in Dubai, I was playing well before then and could have easily had another four to five top-10s before the Dubai World Championship.”
