Lawrie announces tour event

Scottish PGA Professional and former Open winner Paul Lawrie is set to host a new matchplay tournament on the European Tour.

The inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay will take place at Murcar Links Golf Club, on the outskirts of Lawrie’s native Aberdeen, from July 30 - August 2 next year. 

With a prize fund of €1million, it will pit 64 of the leading players on The Race to Dubai against each other in a straight knock out matchplay contest. 

A stalwart of The European Tour over the past 23 seasons, Lawrie will be the tournament host, with his management company, 4 Sports & Entertainment, promoting the event, and Saltire Energy, one of his own sponsors, as the title sponsor.

Lawrie’s first tour event has followed on from his support of multiple events on The PGA in Scotland’s Tartan Tour over the last few years, including the Northern Open and the Paul Lawrie Invitational - won by David Law and Greg McBain respectively.

While the finest moment of his career came in stroke play, when he came from ten shots back to win The 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, Lawrie has always held a strong affinity for matchplay, having represented Europe twice in The Ryder Cup. 

He made a superb debut in the biennial contest two months after he lifted the Claret Jug, hitting the opening tee shot and claiming an impressive three and a half points, while he also played his part in the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ two years ago, defeating Brandt Snedeker in the Singles as Europe staged a dramatic comeback. 

Individually, Lawrie also reached the last eight of the WGC-Match Play Championship in 2000, eventually losing to Tiger Woods on the 18^th hole, and was third in the Volvo World Match Play two years ago. 

Through the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play, the 45 year old is now giving other players the opportunity to gain vital match play experience on one of Scotland’s top links courses, hosting an event at the top level of European golf for the first time having previously supported the game at grassroots level through the Paul Lawrie Foundation. 

Lawrie said: “I'm delighted to be announcing this new tournament and it's fantastic to be bringing another European Tour event to my home town of Aberdeen. Match play is a format that we don't get to play too often out on Tour, and so it's an exciting opportunity for an elite knockout tournament to come to Scotland. 

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Paul Lawrie has been a strong and loyal supporter of The European Tour over the past three decades, as well as one of our finest players and ambassadors. We are therefore delighted that he is putting something back into the game at the highest level of European golf with this new match play event, on top of the commendable work he does at grassroots through the work of the Paul Lawrie Foundation. 

“The Ryder Cup in Scotland was a huge success and demonstrated the appetite that Scottish golf fans have for match play golf, so we must thank Paul, along with Saltire Energy and 4Sports for helping this tournament to become part of The European Tour International Schedule.”