Paul Lawrie, who superbly won the 128th Open Championship at Carnoustie, has been appointed a MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Lawrie, aged 30, became the first European Tour Member to win the Open Championship since Nick Faldo in 1992, the first Scot to win since Sandy Lyle in 1985, the first Scot to win in home soil since Tommy Armour won at Carnoustie in 1931 and the first player to lift the Auld Claret Jug after successfully making it though Final Qualifying since 1963 when the Qualifying System was introduced.
Indeed Lawrie took 112 holes to win after following rounds of 71 and 69 at Downfield with scores of 73, 74, 76 and 67 to tie Justin Leonard and Jean Van de Velde on 290, six over par. He overcame a ten-stoke deficit going into the final round then produced two magnificent birdies on the last two holes of a four-hole play-off.
Lawrie said afterwards: "To win in front of a home crowd was incredible - I only live one hour up the road. I played beautifully in the last round, and I holed a lot of putts, but I can't believe it. I never thought I would get into a play off. I just tried to stay focussed on each shot and somehow managed it. The course was tough, but the Open is a major, and you must pass the exam."
Lawrie, who turned professional in 1986, worked as assistant under the late Doug Smart at Banchory, near Aberdeen, after leaving school at 17. He won the Scottish Assistants Championship in 1990 and then in 1992 collected the Scottish Brewers Championship on the European Challenge Tour and the UAP Under 25's Championship by eight strokes. In 1993 he finished sixth in the Open Championship after a closing 65 which included on eagle two at the 17th at Royal St George's where he holed out with a three iron.
He gained his maiden European Tour win in 1996 when he captured the Open Catalonia at Bonmont, Tarragona, Spain. In 1999, five months prior to his Open Championship Triumph, he won the Qatar Masters at Doha G.C. by a runaway seven strokes.
Lawrie, who was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the 100th United States Open because of injury, completed an outstanding 1999 by making a superb Ryder Cup debut at Brookline - hitting the opening tee shot and claiming 3½ points including a brave win in the singles against Jeff Maggert. In December he was awarded honoury law doctorate from Robert Gordon's University in his native Aberdeen.
Lawrie said: “It is a great honour to collect this award and I am absolutely delighted.”
