Paul Lawrie thrilled by Sir Alex clubs bid

Paul Lawrie: Terrible driving. Picture: Getty

The irons in question are the ones Lawrie had in his bag at last year’s Ryder Cup and include the wedge he used when chipping in at the fourth on his way to a last-day 5 and 3 singles win over Brandt Snedeker.

“It is very nice of Sir Alex and a nice touch,” said Lawrie of the newly-retired Manchester United manager making the biggest offer in his continued support of the Aberdonian’s foundation. “It’s the clubs I’m using at the moment, last year’s set, so as soon as I am finished with them he will get them.”

Even that wedge, which saw the Scot deliver one of many magical moments on the final day in Chicago as Europe pulled off the Miracle at Medinah by staging an astonishing fightback to retain the Ryder Cup?

“None to be honest,” he added in reply to being asked if there was a club he’d liked to have kept as a memento. Even the club I used for the chip in at Medinah – a Wilson FG Tour 60-degree wedge – will be in the set Fergie gets, for sure.”

“If it raises money for the kids from the north-east of Scotland than I am happy to sell. I will bill him now [laughing] and he will get the clubs later.

“But, seriously, it is nice of him and it’s for the foundation. He always presents us with auction items to raise money – he’s done it every year.”

Lawrie, a huge admirer of Ferguson since his days as Aberdeen manager, was speaking after carding an opening 75 – one more than playing partners Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell – in the BMW PGA Championship.

While it wasn’t the start last year’s joint runner-up had been looking for, it was a “decent score” after he’d been five-over with three to play before rallying with birdies at the 16th and 18th.

“I just drove the ball terrible today – one of the worst driving displays for a long time,” admitted the 44-year-old. “I kept hitting it in the wrong place – right off one, right off three, left off nine – and you just can’t go in these places and make par.”

A snap-hook led to a triple-bogey 7 at the 13th. “Take that away and I would have been level-par so, considering I was driving it poorly, it’s a fair effort,” he added. “I had hit the ball well on the range this morning but the only tee shot I hit on the fairway today was on the 18th. At least my putting is better as I holed some nice putts out there – five and six-footers that I have been missing.”

While pride of place in the 14-strong Tartan Army that has descended on the Surrey venue this week went to rookie Scott Henry after his 68, it was a frustrating morning in the main for some of his compatriots.

Richie Ramsay signed for a 71 that had the gloss taken off it by three dropped shots in four holes on the back nine, while Scott Jamieson and Stephen Gallacher both failed to build on encouraging starts. Two-under after two, Jamieson signed for a 73 that included a double-bogey 6 at the 11th while Gallacher undid an eagle-3 at the fourth by spilling five shots around the turn in his 76.

Wearing tight-fitting cycling sleeves to combat the cold, Craig Lee’s lunch didn’t taste as good as it might have after a bogey at the last caused by a visit to the water.

“That wasn’t clever,” admitted the Stirling man as he signed for a 74, two more than Fifer Peter Whiteford and Greig Hutcheon, last year’s Tartan Tour No 1.

Among those whose rounds were in two parts due to a delay caused by a lightning threat were Marc Warren, who came in late in the day with a 69, and Colin Montgomerie, the three-times winner carding an encouraging 71.