Paul Lawrie is making his 620th, and final, appearance on the European Tour event at this week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
Lawrie, who has been one of Europe’s most recognisable figures for close to three decades, has decided to call time on a playing career that saw him become a champion on eight occasions – including the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie.
The Major champion, who was also part of the 2012 winning Ryder Cup team at Medinah, made the decision only recently to end his European Tour career at his national Open.
For Lawrie, the deciding factors were a busier schedule off the course, an ongoing back injury, a new focus on the Legends Tour and a feeling that he could no longer compete at this level.
“I’m looking forward to playing the Legends Tour hugely, but I don’t think I can compete at this European Tour level for four days in a row anymore, and I’ve always said that if I couldn’t compete I wouldn’t play,” Lawrie wrote in his player blog this week.
“I’m really busy now off the course I spend most of my time split between our Five Star sports agency, the Tartan Pro Tour, the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre and the Paul Lawrie Foundation, and I hit about 100 balls a day, whereas it would have been 1,000 balls a day when I was practicing properly and playing. I actually enjoy all that stuff probably more than playing now. My back’s not good, I can’t hit it the way I want to hit it, and the way I used to, and I’m quite happy doing what I’m doing.”
Here, we take a closer look back at the numbers behind a hugely successful European Tour playing career.
29 years, 4 months and 16 days since @PaulLawriegolf started his European Tour career, he signs off fittingly at his home Open. Thanks for everything Paul!#ASISO #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/4a67Y0yHHD
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 2, 2020
Paul Lawrie: Career in numbers
620 – Appearances on the European Tour.
Paul Lawrie has marked the final appearance of his European Tour playing career during the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, his 620th event.
29 years, 4 months and 16 days - since he began his European Tour career.
After turning professional at the age of 17 in 1986 with a handicap of 5, Paul Lawrie made his debut at the 1992 Johnnie Walker Asian Classic. It was the first of 26 events he played that year in 1992, and the first of 620 in his career.
396 – Cuts made.
1 – Major victory
Famously starting the final round 10 shots behind, Lawrie triumphing in a play-off during the infamous Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999, defeating both Justin Leonard and Jean Van de Velde. It remains the biggest final round comeback in history.
2 – Ryder Cup appearances.
Lawrie's Ryder Cup career saw him compete in two of the most famous. He made his debut during the 1999 contest at Brookline, and returned after a 13 year gap for the 2012 contest dubbed the 'Miracle at Medinah' - which included his own singles victory over Brandt Snedeker.
67 – Top 10s
8 – European Tour wins
A first victory came for Lawrie during the 1996 Catalan Open. He added a second title three years later at the Qatar Masters just a few months before lifting the Claret Jug at Carnoustie. Five further wins followed: The 2001 Dunhill Links Championship, the 2002 Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, the 2011 Open de Andalucia de golf, the 2012 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, and the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship.
