As summer jobs go, it probably beats fruit picking, labouring, dish washing or handing out flyers for a two-for-one feast at that ropey buffet next to the bookies. Caddying for an Open champion on the European Tour for a few months to earn some pennies before embarking on student life at Stirling University sounds pretty enticing. The fact that said Open champion is also your faither makes it even more appealing. “His mother has made sure he is on a hell of a deal and I’ve never paid a caddie as much in my life,” chuckled Paul Lawrie, who has employed the bag heaving services of his youngest son, Michael, for the busy summer schedule.

Lawrie’s level-par 72 over the West Course on day one of the BMW PGA Championship was the fifth round this father and son alliance had enjoyed as a working partnership having started at the recent Portuguese Open where they contested all 72-holes.

A pulled approach to the last, which plunged into the water and led to a bogey, could have prompted some typical player and caddie mutterings and awkward silences but Lawrie senior took full responsibility for that particular mishap. “Michael’s not started giving me pelters on the course yet but it will come no doubt,” added Lawrie with a wry smile.

Having been with his previous caddie, Davy Kenny, for over six years, the decision by his bagman back in February to end the relationship in order to take a break from touring life caught Lawrie on the hop. “It was a complete surprise because I didn’t even know that Davy was thinking of stopping,” reflected Lawrie, who has twice been a runner-up in the BMW PGA Championship down the seasons. “It was a shock after nearly seven years. I wasn’t playing anyway for a while after he left and I knew I had a time before I started again. A few of the regular tour caddies asked me but then I thought about Michael. I asked him and he said: ‘I’d love to’.”

With 18-year-old Michael set to fly the family nest to begin a golf scholarship in September, Lawrie is enjoying this cherished time with his son. “When they get to a certain age they start do their own thing,” he said. “It’s nice to spend so much time with him.”