Name game is a bogey for Colin Montgomerie

HE MAY have been one of the best golfers of his generation but it appears he is not as good with names. In his new autobiography, Scotland’s Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie repeatedly refers to his Scottish rival and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie as Peter Lawrie.

The faux pas has been committed to print even though Lawrie, unlike Montgomerie, has managed to join the elite club of golfers who have won one of the game’s four major tournaments.

It would appear that Lawrie, from Aberdeenshire, has been confused with another European Tour professional, Peter Lawrie of Ireland.

The mistake appears throughout Monty, An Autobiography, despite the Scottish Lawrie and Mongomerie partnering each other in the Ryder Cup for Europe and in the Dunhill Cup for Scotland.

The name Peter Lawrie appears several times in the 278-page book, but only once does it refer to the Irish professional.

On all other occasions the name Peter Lawrie is used when Montgomerie is, in fact, writing about Paul Lawrie, the Open Champion.

Reached at Celtic Manor, where he is currently competing in the Wales Open, Paul Lawrie, who was ironically tied with his Irish namesake after 54 holes yesterday, declined to make any comment. Phone calls to Montgomerie’s agent, Guy Kinnings, were not immediately returned.