David Law pushes right buttons after text call-up

AFTER seeing his Walker Cup hopes suffer a major blow as he failed to qualify in the Amateur Championship in Southport 24 hours earlier, David Law received a timely tonic in the opening round of the Paul Lawrie Invitational yesterday.

A late addition to the line-up - the tournament host got him in after receiving a text from his Foundation golf team member late on Tuesday night - the 20-year-old carded a two-under-par 68 to sit a shot off the pace in the inaugural 25,000 event.

On a day when a blustery wind made scoring tricky on the picturesque Bieldside course, former European Open winner Kenny Ferrie justified his star billing alongside the tournament host with a 67, a score matched by Murrayfield's Mark Kerr and Lindsay Mann from Carnoustie.

Law's effort, which put him in a group that includes the on-form Greig Hutcheon, was equally commendable, especially after he'd had to endure a "grim" six-hour car journey home from Lancashire contemplating the consequences of failing to make the match-play phase in the amateur game's blue riband event.

The 2009 double Scottish champion fell five shots short in a tournament being watched closely by the GB&I selectors ahead of the Walker Cup match at Royal Aberdeen and admitted he is now concerned about a more immediate target, earning a place in the six-man Scottish side for next month's European Team Championship in Portugal.

"It is a huge blow missing out. I needed a good week but I did not play well enough on the first day and left myself with too much to do," he said. "I spoke to Paul Lawrie a couple of weeks ago about keeping a spot free here but I had completely forgotten about it.

"It was not until I got up the road and saw it on the internet, so I texted Paul. Thankfully, he bent over backwards and managed to pull a few strings to squeeze me in about 10pm last night. It is good to get back playing again in a tournament - it is better than lying in my bed feeling sorry for myself."

As well as having two amateurs in the field - Sean Lawrie, the host's 18-year-old nephew, gave a good account of himself as well with a 71 - the tournament also includes two ladies and, with all due respect to the males above her on the leaderboard, Heather MacRae probably produced the day's outstanding round. Playing off the same tees, the 27-year-old, who became the first woman in the modern era to play in the Scottish PGA Championship two years ago at Gleneagles, where she will take up a new attachment next week, carded a 70, the same as Lawrie and seven shots better than her boyfriend, Chris Kelly.

"It was a nice surprise when I got an invite for the event - it's the first time I've played in a field with a former Open champion," said MacRae. "It's also the first time I've been off the same tees as the guys in an event. I wasn't expecting too much, so I'm delighted to start so well."Ferrie, who was two-over after four holes before recovering with six birdies, coming home in 30, revealed after his round that he'd been disappointed that more European Tour players weren't in the field after being asked to play by Lawrie.

"Paul is one of the good guys on Tour," said the big Geordie when asked why he'd headed to the North-East to play for a purse significantly smaller than the one on offer in St Omer this week. When I saw the final field I was a little bit disappointed that I was the only one who came. Once it's up and running in a few years time, though, I'm sure a lot of the guys will be very pleased to come here."