Paul Lawrie reckons he can get back in the winning groove

PAUL Lawrie, who is still in contention at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, believes a few more old-fashioned golfers, including himself, could soon be winning again on the European Tour thanks to the new rule applying to grooves.

Tom Watson and Greg Norman are among the players who have expressed their backing for the new rule introduced by the R&A and the USGA regarding grooves and Lawrie, who carded a 70 to lie joint-13th on eight-under-par, two ahead of countryman Marc Warren after he signed for a second successive 69, has added his voice to that camp.

"I think the rule change is a fantastic change," said the 1999 Open champion. "I think you will see a few more 'feel' players, a few more old-fashioned players kind of winning tournaments again. I hope I'm one of those. I don't mind being called old-fashioned.

"I was brought up on links and I think it's going to help me. I like to roll the ball on the green. I don't like to spin it all. I read a quote that Greg Norman said you're going to get a lot of older players coming back again and I certainly feel like one of those."

Warren, making his first appearance in 2010, was just three off the lead after picking up five shots to the turn in his second round but stumbled when he ran up a double-bogey 5 at the short 4th, his 13th hole.

Gary Orr, who had a 71 for four-under, and Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who had four birdies in his opening seven holes and went on to card a 68, were the only other Scots to survive the cut.