Paul Lawrie to make his 500th appearance on the European Tour at this week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship
The resurging Scotsman Paul Lawrie will now be tee-ing off at the star-studded Volvo World Match Play Championship at the scenic Finca Cortesin in Spain, his 500th European Tour event.
The 43-year-old Lawrie who surged to stardom in the year 1999 when he landed the Open Championship title, succumbed to form vows in the later part of his career and won his last event in the year 2002, the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open and had to wait for another gruesome nine years to card another European Tour victory last year.
Lawrie is only the 22nd player on the European Tour who has reached the benchmark of 500 events and is the fourth Scot to do so in the history of the tour.
Lawrie remains adamant that he is still good to go for another 100 events and will hit the 600 events mark till the time he calls it a day to professional golf.
Lawrie referred to Sam Torrance, the European Tour record holder for the highest number of appearances amounting to a total of 706.
He said, “I can see me getting to 600 appearances now. To get to 700, where Sam is at, is a huge number. Playing for 40 years is just an incredible record. I think we'll leave Sam at the top for a while. I don't think I'm in danger of overtaking him but I’d like to get to 600”.
Turning professional in the year 1986, Lawrie made his first appearance in the mainstream European Tour after a lapse of six years in the Johnnie Walker Asian Classic.
Lawrie came back from a deficit of ten strokes in the final round to win the title on the playoff which still remains a record on the European Tour.
Lawrie added, “When I turned pro at 17 as a five handicap in 1986 and then got to play with these boys each week - anything that happened after that was a bonus. I think that's helped me, longevity‑wise”.
The grizzled veteran will be pitched against a sturdy field of top-ranked European Tour players, all hoping to land the coveted title on the tour.
Lawrie is hoping to win the title to continue resurging in his trade.
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