Paul Lawrie reigns in Spain as Scot reaches semis

TWO weeks after a wretched performance in front of Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is poised for another mighty leap towards adding a second cap to the first he won 13 years ago.

In his 500th European Tour start, the 43-year-old former Open champion meets Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts this morning for a place in the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.

The other semi-final will be between Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who became the last remaining home hope when Sergio Garcia three-putted the first extra hole against McDowell.

Already on course for a return to Ryder Cup action, Aberdonian Lawrie has the chance to move to second in the points race following thumping wins over Thomas Bjorn and Retief Goosen yesterday.

First he beat Bjorn 5&4 – the Dane’s five bogeys in the first eight holes certainly helped – and then after lunch he did not drop a stroke in crushing two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen 6&5 in the blustery conditions.

“You can’t really ask for more than that,” Lawrie said. “The wind really picked up and under par you are going to be tough to beat.”

On the Ryder Cup situation, Lawrie added: “I’m not thinking about that, even if I win this week. If things go well then obviously it’s a step closer, but that’s all it is. There’s a lot of tournaments to be played.”

One of the big ones is next month’s US Open, but Lawrie has chosen not to make the trip to San Francisco and remains happy with that decision.

The Ryder Cup is his main priority and he has a poor record in the US Open.

He said: “The way I’ve done my schedule is the best for me.”

What Lawrie hopes, of course, is that he does not have to fall back on Olazabal giving him a wild card. As he missed the cut alongside him a fortnight ago in Seville he said to the Spanish star: “I guess that’s me knackered for a pick.”

Olazabal’s reaction?

Lawrie said: “He just laughed.”

McDowell breathed a huge of relief last night. He was comfortable enough against Richard Finch in the morning, but then had to go into extra holes against Garcia when he missed a five-footer for the match on the last.

The Spanish star was favourite when they returned to the same hole, but charged a 15-foot putt for victory four feet past and missed it after McDowell had holed from five.

“It wasn’t exactly El Clasico and I feel like I dodged a bullet there,” said the 2010 US Open champion.

“I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I was going home, but sometimes you have to win ugly and sometimes to win you need what just happened to me. I count myself lucky.”

Colsaerts beat American Brandt Snedeker 4&3 to reach the last four for the second year in a row, while Dubai Desert Classic winner Cabrera-Bello turned a three-down deficit at the turn into a 3&1 victory over compatriot Alvaro Quiros, winning six out of eight holes.

The quarter-finals were an England-free zone after their five-strong contingent were wiped out in the morning. Poulter was beaten 4&3 by Quiros and refused to blame the defeat on the second-day incident when a buggy went over his foot.

“Hot bath, bag of ice for the ankle as the cart lady decided to crush it with her front wheel,” he had posted on Twitter, but before heading off to catch an Easyjet flight he said: “I don’t need excuses.

“I had plenty of chances and didn’t take them – simple. I just didn’t play good enough.”

Second seed Justin Rose had crushed Robert Rock 7&6 and Open champion Darren Clarke 6&4 to win his group, but had no complaints about his 4&3 loss to Colsaerts.

“I actually boxed a good fight, but I ended up in the cuts room getting stitched up – Nicolas was seven under through 15 holes,” he said.

“I hit a drive out of my boots on 14 [353 yards], knocked it on the dance floor [the green] as he did and he rolled his in for eagle.

“I’m 15 under for three rounds and going home. Unfortunately, that’s the way the tournament is.”

McDowell’s day had started with a 3&2 victory over Finch, the 218th-ranked outsider who had knocked out top seed and world No.9 Martin Kaymer in his previous game.

“Richard Finch might not jump off the page as one of the top names at the tournament, but they are all quality players,” said McDowell.

“They’re all capable of shooting low numbers, but I feel I’m playing well and getting the hang of this course.”

The other Englishmen to lose were Rock, beaten 3&2 by Goosen, and 21-year-old Tom Lewis, who went down 4&3 to Garcia.