RYDER CUP SKIPPER SHOWS NO SIGNS OF INJURED SHOULDER

Marian Lawrie presents the PLGC Challenge Cup to Paul McGinley.

 A trophy and a prize box (bottle of whisky perhaps) for Paul McGinley after his victory over Paul Lawrie. Picturex by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

McGINLEY'S 3-UNDER-PAR NINE HOLES

WINS PAUL LAWRIE CHALLENGE

NEWS RELEASE FROM PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE
with additional words by Colin Farquharson 
Today at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley accepted the host’s challenge to take part in the second staging of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Challenge, inaugurated last August when Paul invited the then winning Ryder Cup captain, Jose-Maria Olazabal, to take part in an exhibition match over the nine-hole Par 3 lay-out.

The Match, sponsored by Farmfoods and decided on stroke-play, is an opportunity for Paul to let Aberdeen’s golfing public - free of charge - see some top-class golf up close and also to give some of the kids involved in his Foundation the opportunity to receive some tips and advice from the world-class guests.

Unlike the 2013 Challenge, however, Paul Lawrie was unable to retain the trophy he won in such dramatic fashion – he holed-out with his opening tee shot against Ollie!

McGinley, nursing an injured shoulder and having had to withdraw from the French Open last week, played beautifully to complete the nine hole lay-out in three-under par 24 shots.

McGinley had birdie 2s at the first (10ft putt), third (2ft putt) and eighth (12ft putt) and par 3s at the six other holes - against a par 27 (one bogey 4, one birdie 2 and seven par 3s) by Paul Lawrie.

McGinley's opening birdie and another on the third hole meant that the host was up against it from the off.  Lawrie’s birdie at the second (3ft putt)  brought them level but McGinley never put a foot wrong as his third birdie at the tough 8^th hole, versus a bogey (following a visit to the water hazard) from the host, sealed victory.

Lawrie did not have the best of luck, putts lipping out instead of dropping, particularly at the two-level seventh green where, from the higher surface, he almost holed the sloping putt for a 2 from about 25ft. 
It was a real family affair for the Lawries - Paul was the man of action, sons Craig and Michael caddied for Paul McG and Paul L respectively - and their mother, Marian, presented the trophy to the winner on the ninth green. 

A cheque of £26,500 was presented to the Paul Lawrie Foundation prior to the Challenge getting underway by the Aberdeen Oilmen’s Golf Association (AOGA).  Chairman Pat Sibille made the presentation following AOGA’s annual fundraiser at Gleneagles.

Paul made a donation to The Paul McGinley Foundation following the Challenge. Then trick shot golfer Jeremy Dale entertained the estimated 1,000 spectators to round off the day.

 

Paul Lawrie                            Paul McGinley

3 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 3                    2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3

 Paul Lawrie was just short of the putting surface with his tee shot at this hole but almost holed his chip.

First shot of the day from Paul Lawrie. Last year he holed out from the first tee against Jose Maria Olazabal. But no such luck this time ... he had a 3 and Paul McGinley a birdie 2 at the opening hole. Pictures by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

The par-3 course they were playing today, off the back tees, all distances in yards:

Hole 1 129
Hole 2 106
Hole 3 144
Hole 4 177
Hole 5 205
Hole 6 127
Hole 7 103
Hole 8 182
Hole 9 163
Total distance: 1,336yd
Par 27 (9x3) 

PAUL LAWRIE'S RYDER CUP HOPES

NEED A WIN OVER NEXT 2 WEEKS
 
In the pre-match Press Conference, Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley would not be drawn into discussing the possibility of Paul Lawrie being invited to be one of the Irishman's assistants at Gleneagles in September - if he doesn't win the AAM Scottish Open and maybe the Open too to gain automatic selection, writes Colin Farquharson
"I shall wait until the complete team is named and then have a look at the players who did not make it and are available to join my vice-captains.
"Until then I don't want to discuss it. I don't like discussing players and their prospects of making or not making the team. Paul Lawrie is experienced enough to be able to handle but Stephen Gallacher, for instance, does not need me putting extra pressure on him over the last few weeks before the team is chosen.
"Certainly, I can say that performances in the Scottish Open, the Open and the US PGA will count for a lot in my book."
Paul Lawrie, who will not be entering the US PGA, admits that he is a very long shot to get in the team by virtue of automatic selection through through the qualifying points table.
"I just have not played well enough. It's as simple as that. I was injured for a spell and I had bad luck but the bottom line is that I need to win at Balgownie and or Hoylake because I am so far down the list," said Paul.