Lawrie has no regrets about forfeiting place at US Open

ANOTHER top 10. Another big cheque. Another step closer to a Ryder Cup return. But Paul Lawrie is sticking to his guns over a bold decision not to play in the US Open in just over a fortnight’s time.

“I made the decision a long time ago that it was better for my schedule not to go to America,” said the former Open champion after signing off with a joint-best-of-the day 66 to finish in a tie for second at Wentworth.

Instead of heading for the Olympic Club in San Francisco, he will stay at home to prepare for the BMW International Open in Cologne. It is the start of a five-week run that also takes in the Irish Open, French Open, Scottish Open and The Open. “It means two weeks off before that,” he added. “When I made the decision, I knew some people wouldn’t like it as they feel you shouldn’t turn down exempt spots in majors, but I thought long and hard about it and it’s the best for me.”

By making sure he is ready for the event in Germany, Lawrie believes it will enhance his chances of getting back on the Ryder Cup stage for the first time since 1999.

“The big priority is to get in the Ryder Cup team,” he stressed. “I feel that the US Open is not a venue that’s ever suited my game and, instead, I can concentrate on the five events that run after the US Open.”

While Luke Donald was a worthy winner of the BMW PGA Championship for the second year running, it was no surprise that Lawrie’s last-day performance also had the likes of Peter Alliss and his fellow BBC commentator Ken Brown purring in admiration.

Six off the pace at the start, he closed the gap on Donald with a glorious eagle-3 at the fourth then also birdied the sixth to move to eight-under for the tournament.

The 43-year-old was up to ten-under after also picking up shots at the 11th and 12th, had his only bogey of the day at the 13th but then birdied the last two. It could have been even better as one birdie putt spun out of the hole at the 15th and he missed another one from around four feet following a majestic approach at the 16th.

“I hit a lot of good shots but missed a few putts out there – but that’s typical me, still moaning,” he said afterwards. “You have to be happy to shoot 66, but maybe it should have been a few less.”

The Aberdonian pinpointed his putting as the main reason why he’s climbed from 272 in the world rankings around 18 months ago into the top 50. And he’s rising week after week at the moment. “I’m about 28-30 putts a round at the moment so all of sudden I have a chance out here most weeks,” he added. “You get on a run when your confidence goes up and right now it’s never been better.”

This was Lawrie’s six top 10 of the season. Thanks to Justin Rose missing a short putt that would have secured second on his own, it earned him a cheque for £312,000. Fourth on the European points list for the Ryder Cup heading into this event, he is now up to second behind Rory McIlroy and also up to fifth in the Race to Dubai.

“I was measured this week [for Ryder Cup clothing] and to come here and finish tied second is another step forward, but there’s a long way to go,” he said.