Lawrie keeps Irish eyes smiling in Seville

5/4/2008

Peter Lawrie made it a hat-trick of Irish victories in three consecutive weeks after his dramatic play-off victory over home favourite Ignacio Garrido in the Open de España at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla

Lawrie’s maiden European Tour title – secured at the second extra hole thanks largely to a superb bunker shot – followed the breakthrough victory of his close friend and compatriot Damien McGrane at the Volvo China Open, and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke’s first win for two-and-a-half years at last week’s BMW Asian Open.

McGrane – his room-mate on Tour – had turned the Volvo China Open into a procession, winning by nine shots, but Lawrie was made to work far harder for his victory in soaring temperatures in Seville.   

Sitting on eleven under par after 12 holes of his final round, Lawrie’s chances of victory appeared remote. But four birdies in his last six holes saw the 34 year old installed as the clubhouse leader on 15 under par.

Overnight leader Garrido – playing in the final group with compatriot Miguel Angel Jiménez – had toiled on the front nine, dropping three shots; but a revival after the turn meant he needed a birdie on the 72nd hole to take the tournament to a play-off.

The Spaniard, whose father Antonio won the Spanish Open in 1972, duly rolled in a superb 30ft putt on the 18th green to ensure there would be more drama on an already eventful day in Seville.  

And so to the play-off, with both men finding the fairway off the 18th tee. Lawrie landed his approach shot around 30 feet from the pin, whilst Garrido hit a sublime shot to within six feet of the hole.

Lawrie miraculously sunk his putt – via the left hand edge of the cup – to put the pressure back on Garrido. The Spaniard duly followed him in for birdie, meaning the pair returned to the 18th tee.

This time Lawrie found a fairway bunker, but found the heart of the green with a superbly struck eight iron from the sand. 

In contrast, Garrido could only look on in horror as his approach pitched at pin height, but spun viciously back into the lake guarding the green.

And so Lawrie, after Garrido had pitched on for four, was left with two putts to seal his maiden European Tour victory and claim a £262,000 winner’s cheque which saw him climb from 88th to 12th on the Order of Merit.

Leaderboard – Final:

1.  Peter Lawrie                         IRL  68 70 68 67 273 -15
2.  Ignacio Garrido                     ESP  66 63 72 72 273 -15
3.  Sören Hansen                      DEN  68 70 67 69 274 -14
4.  Alfredo Garcia-Heredia           ESP  69 69 69 68 275 -13
     Miguel Angel Jiménez            ESP  70 67 67 71 275 -13
     David Lynn                           ENG  70 66 73 66 275 -13
7.  Richard Finch                        ENG  72 69 67 68 276 -12
8.  Martin Erlandsson                 SWE  65 68 73 71 277 -11
     Peter Hanson                       SWE  74 67 69 67 277 -11
10. Robert-Jan Derksen              NED  71 68 69 70 278 -10
     Niclas Fasth                         SWE  72 69 71 66 278 -10
     Andrew McLardy                     SAF  72 65 69 72 278 -10
     Alexander Noren                   SWE  74 64 70 70 278 -10
     Danny Willett (am.)               ENG  73 70 64 71 278 -10

Source: European Tour