Law adapting to park life in pro ranks

Published on 10/07/2012 02:56

DAVID Law, one of three rookie professionals handed invitations for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, will be pleased to feel links turf under his feet again this week, but is having to change his natural game to adapt to life in the paid ranks.

While questions are regularly asked about why young Scottish players seem to struggle initially as Tour professionals, certainly in comparison to some of their continental counterparts, one thing often forgotten is they are going from almost exclusively playing links courses to parkland layouts all the time. “There’s a huge difference between links golf and the inland golf we play mostly on the pro tours and I quickly realised I had to change my game for that,” said Law, who is delighted to have received a spot in the £2.5 million event at Castle Stuart along with his fellow Scottish rookies, James Byrne and Michael Stewart.

“It’s a different game on Tour and I’m trying to hit the ball a little higher, which you have to do on Tour to get more control on the greens.”

Law already has a professional win under his belt, the 21-year-old Aberdonian having tasted victory on the EPD Tour, a third-tier circuit, in Morocco earlier this year. But he’s still learning his trade and isn’t just relying on the valuable support and advice he receives from mentor Paul Lawrie. “The big difference I see from amateur golf is the strength in depth on the pro tours,” he added. “If you drop a shot you fall down 15 spots; if you drop a shot in amateur golf it’s only two or three spots. I have to be a bit sharper, smarter and not make stupid mistakes. I learned a lot playing with Sam Walker [the Scottish Hydro Challenge winner] at Aviemore a couple of weeks ago. He is really consistent and drives the ball very well. He was never in trouble. Sam is 34 and very experienced. It’s good to see, close up, how these guys play and see the difference between them and you.

“The main difference I see is in the short game, and I’ve got to work on that. But I couldn’t have a better place to do that than the new Paul Lawrie Golf Centre [formerly the Aspire Centre] in Aberdeen. The chipping area there is fantastic and there’s a great putting green, just everything you need to improve your short game.”