Match Play draw excites host Paul Lawrie

TOURNAMENT host Paul Lawrie will be joined by five of his 
compatriots in today’s draw for the Saltire Energy Match Play starting at Murcar Links on Thursday.

Paul Lawrie. Picture: Michael Gillen

Marc Warren, Richie Ramsay, Chris Doak, Scott Jamieson and David Drysdale are the other home players going into the 
hat when the 32 first-round ties are decided in a draw being made live on Sky Sports News 
at 3pm.

Craig Lee could also figure in that if someone pulls out as he has moved up to first reserve for the 64-man field.

Having accepted an invitation to play in the event, two-times major winner John Daly is the star attraction, while the field also includes two men with recent Ryder Cup experience, Edoardo Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts.

They are players the Scots will be looking to avoid in the opening round, as will be the case with recent European Tour winners such as James Morrison, Chris Wood and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

“Match play is a format we don’t get to play too often on Tour, so it’s very exciting for the players and also for the fans,” said Lawrie of the new event 
that carries a €1 million prize fund. “I can’t wait to get 
going.”