Paul Lawrie is drawing inspiration from Ryder Cup Vice Captain Thomas Björn as he looks to make it back to back wins on The European Tour.
The Scot, a member of the 12 man European Team looking to regain golf’s most famous prize at Medinah Country Club next month, is in fine form having won the Johnnie Walker Championship last week.
Lawrie has already set his sights on more success and is aiming to emulate Björn’s effort last year of following up a Gleneagles triumph by emerging victorious at the Omega European Masters.
That would complete an incredible parallel between the players, with Lawrie having won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy in 2012, much like Björn did the previous year.
“Winning takes a lot out of you, because there is a lot of stuff which goes on around winning a tournament,” he said.
“But Thomas managed it last year, winning back to back in Gleneagles and then here, so there’s no reason why I can’t do the same.
“He also won in Qatar at the start of last season just as I did this year, so it could be a nice wee omen for me this week. You never know.”
While Björn will doubtless be a source of advice for Lawrie et al in Chicago, he will not be giving any help or advice to his playing partner at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Indeed, the Dane is one of the big names in an impressive field and no doubt has aspirations to defend his title.
Björn, however, will be given a stern challenge, particularly by Lawrie – who is understandably brimming with confidence and refusing to rest on his laurels.
“There are lots of positives because I’ve been playing lovely,” he said. “Winning three times in the last 18 months has been great, so life’s pretty good.
“My main aim now is to finish in the top five of The Race to Dubai because my best finish was sixth, so that’ll be a nice way to round off what’s been a great season. “
