Man-to-man, head-to-head, one-on-one?
Call it what you like, you can't beat a bit of matchplay golf. Throwing away the card and simply playing against your opponent is one of the most captivating, competitive forms of golf there is. In these times of big bucks and TV ratings, however, it's not always a format that sits easily with the money men as the star attractions can be all sent packing in the first round. This week's WGC Matchplay Championship in San Francisco will be in groups so the leading lights are guaranteed to play at least three games. Paul Lawrie is more of an old school combatant. That's why his own Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay Championship at Murcar Links in July will be a simple format: a field of 64 in a straight draw. If you lose, yer oot.
"You tee off and there's just two of you and you take out the guy you're playing or go home," enthused Lawrie of this kill or be killed form of golfing battle. "I quite like that."
As a two-time campaigner on the frontline of the Ryder Cup, Lawrie has certainly earned his stripes in the matchplay format. His enthusiasm and willingness to give something back to the game that has served him so well has led to him teeing-up his own knock-out event on the European Tour, which is aimed more at the circuit's up-and-coming players. With Team Europe in command of the Ryder Cup these days - they have won eight of the last 10 transatlantic tussle with the USA - Lawrie knows that the more matchplay competitions there are on the European scene, the better it will be for future success in the biennial contest. The staple diet of 72-hole strokeplay events can become a bit turgid. A series of man-on-man encounters on the menu can whet the appetites again.
"I always enjoyed the Seve Trophy, it is something a bit different when you are just playing one other guy and I think we need a couple of events like that," added Lawrie, who memorably overwhelmed Brandt Snedeker 5&3 in the final day singles of the 2012 Ryder Cup which helped the Europeans perform the Miracle of Medinah. "We are winning more Ryder Cups than we are losing which is great to see. I think events like this will add to that and keep it (the Ryder Cup) where it is.
"I've had a rough idea of doing this for a number of years. There is the World Matchplay but that's only for the guys in the top 64 in the world. The Ryder Cup has become such an important part of the tour and I had always thought that a match play event would go down well and be proper practice for the guys potentially playing in the Ryder Cup. It is a bit different, and we have enough four round strokeplay events. There's a lot of enthusiasm for it. A lot of the guys haven't played matchplay since the amateur days so they are looking forward to that. I think this will capture the imagination of the players."
In his own backyard, Lawrie will be the man to beat at Murcar come July and the former Open champion is relishing the challenge. "You have all known me for a long time and I give the same amount of effort in every tournament I play and I give every tournament 100%," said Lawrie. "An event with my name on it will obviously add a little bit of pressure to me but the pressure you put on yourself is harder than the pressure from other people. I expect to come up and compete in every tournament I play in. The fact the event has my name on it doesn't add any more pressure to me, it just makes it more exciting. The first tee might be a bit jittery, mind you."
The rigorous links of Murcar, a regular host to the Scottish Boys' Matchplay Championship, should provide the perfect stage for a series of keenly fought duels. "There are plenty of risk and reward holes," noted Lawrie. "If it's flat calm, like any links course, there will be lots of birdies. If it blows a bit, which we hope it does, then there will be some very challenging holes. That's why I chose it. We want it to be exciting and we'll get that here."
Lawrie's event has certainly stirred the senses of his fellow golfers but it's also attracted the attentions of a well-kent name from Aberdeen Football Club's glorious past. "I think it's a fantastic achievement for Paul to be launching a new event on the European Tour," said Sir Alex Ferguson, the celebrated Scot who led the Dons to multiple triumphs at home and abroad during a glory-laden time as manager. "Paul has achieved so much in the sport and given so much back through his own Foundation so it is very fitting that he now has an event named after him."
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