In this bright new dawn, the sky's the limit for Donald and Lawrie

Golf Correspondent

Tuesday 29 May 2012

As this correspondent sat slouched with brandy in hand on the last flight back up from Heathrow following a thoroughly captivating BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, there were a lot of thoughts hurtling through a frazzled mind.

Bernard Gallacher believes Paul Lawrie should reconsider decision to drop US Open from his schedule. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

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Nick Rodger

Will it be raining in Glasgow? How will Engelbert Humperdink possibly recover from his Eurovision anguish? And what would the reaction be if the pilot came over the intercom and, in hushed tones, uttered the lines "and if you'd like to look out over the left wing, you'll shortly see the fiery remains of the right wing." In resigned acceptance, at least we would've gone out on a high.

With Luke Donald back to world No.1 after his triumphant procession over the West course and Paul Lawrie continuing to add chapters to what is turning out to be one of the best golfing stories in recent years by claiming a share of second place, the European Tour's flagship event had provided an uplifting finale and gave us plenty to ponder.The phenomenon that is the Lawrie resurgence continues to enthrall. His approach to the 18th on Sunday night to a dangerous back-left pin position encapsulated in a moment the drive, confidence and quality of ball-striking that have helped to illuminate the Aberdonian's astonishing season of achievement. Of course, with the Ryder Cup inching ever nearer, Lawrie already has one arm in the official team jaicket but with every fine performance comes increased scrutiny of his decision to drop the US Open from his schedule."I think Paul should reconsider because his game is good enough to win it," came the suggestion last night from his fellow Scot Bernard Gallacher, the former Ryder Cup captain and one of the Wentworth club's most celebrated figures. Lawrie is not going to make a U-turn though, despite such bold predictions, and he's made that clear umpteen times. He's been around the block long enough to know what is best for him and this single-mindedness continues to serve him well. It is perhaps fitting that the 1999 Open champion, who has done so much to bolster the game in his homeland through his Foundation, is this morning the new flagbearer for Scotland on the world rankings, having risen to 29th, the highest position he has held. In this bright, new dawn for Lawrie, the sky is the limit.That must certainly be the case, too, for Donald. With Rory McIlroy apparently out of sorts at the moment – he missed the cut by a country mile at Wentworth – there is an opportunity for the Englishman to turn the screw. He has all the tools for the task in hand. During Sunday's round, Donald delivered a masterclass in putting (apart from an early three-putt bogey) and there was a ruthlessness to the way he went about his business as he strangled the life out of the contest.The absence of a major trophy on the jam-packed Donald mantelpiece remains a great mystery but, with momentum building, perhaps the time is now right for that to be solved. Next month's US Open at the Olympic club will be contested over a course which, like Wentworth, should suit him down to a tee; tight, tricky and firm. Royal Lytham, too, host venue for July's Open, will also put a premium on accuracy and thoughtful shot-making, a place where players have to plot their way around.His self-belief continues to grow and that can be seen in the way he carries himself. His late father was from Stranraer and Donald did admit prior to the PGA that he had inherited that occasionally downbeat, hunched shoulders look that can often be seen in us Scots. Think Monty after an 81 and you get the picture. Yet, both inwardly and outwardly, the signs are good.The fact that he talked about winning "majors" not just "a major"was a telling, encouraging signal of intent and increased positivity. Donald now has a considerable number of weapons in his golfing armoury. Surely it can't be long before this array of artillery finally cracks the major nut.Back in 2000, there were six European Tour events in England and just two English golfers in the top 100. Today, there are two Englishmen in the top three of the global order and just one regular tour event, the BMW PGA Championship, staged south of the border.The likes of Donald, Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have all made loud cries about the lack of professional competition in their homeland.In their European Tour careers alone, that posse have racked up combined earnings of some €80m. At the recent Players' Championship, Poulter told the media that he had his eyes on a new Ferrari Enzo as a "nice addition to the stable". If an English event means so much to them, perhaps Poulter and his multi-millionaire pals could use their player power and spending power to help get one off the ground.

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In this bright new dawn, the sky's the limit for Donald and Lawrie

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