After Kiradech Aphibarnrat pipped Robert Karlsson to the post to win the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play last week, there has been praise across the board for the new Race to Dubai event.
Tournament host Lawrie, who fell at the second hurdle to compatriot Chris Doak, was effusive in his assessment of how the week had unfolded at Murcur Links Golf Club in Aberdeen.
“I think it's been absolutely magnificent to be fair,” said Lawrie. “I don't think you could have asked for any more. 4Sports & Entertainment have promoted it for me and I think they have just done a wonderful job with everything. They have got everything right. It's their first real go at promoting a huge event. They have obviously got The European Open coming up, too, later in the year.
“Mike Loggie at Saltire Energy is thrilled with how it went, as you can imagine. He's been here every day, and he's really enjoyed it, which is obviously the most important thing when your main guy is happy with how it's going. The feedback from the players has been brilliant. They have all loved the course.
“The condition of the course has been out of the world. Some of the boys have said these are some of the best greens they have putted on, certainly this year. When you get comments like that and when you get the weather like we had for the final day, you know it's going to be magnificent.”
The feedback from the players has been brilliant. They have all loved the course.
Paul Lawrie
Aphibarnrat, who was three holes up with four to play in Sunday’s final before losing the 15th, 16th and 17th, held his nerve at the 18th as the 26 year old secure victory in Scotland and become the youngest Asian player to win three times on The European Tour.
“I have to thank all the sponsors and Paul Lawrie for such a nice event,” said the Thai ace. “This is my first time here and first match play event for this year and it has been a real success, I couldn’t be happier with the result. My next step was to win in Europe, so I am very happy and so proud of myself.”
Despite missing out on outright victory, former European Number One Karlsson said the head-to-head format had helped him turn around a spell of indifferent form as the Swede claimed his first finish inside the top three since 2010.
“Well, I missed five cuts in a row coming into this week, but that's the way in this game,” said Karlsson. “Especially being match play, it frees up a little bit more. It's a bit easier to stay in the moment.
“It's a bit more of a mental game where you really, really have to stay in the present time and doesn't really matter if you hit two or three bad shots. You're not carrying them with you the rest of the week.”
David Howell, who took the bronze medal after beating Scotland’s Marc Warren by one hole in the third/fourth play-off, was also quick to praise the event and its refreshing format.
“It's a great buzz,” said the Englishman. “I've really enjoyed it and I was looking out for a match-play tournament to come back out on the Tour for many years and it's happened until now and it's brilliant that Saltire have come on board. It’s lovely to have Paul Lawrie come up with the idea and host the event. It's been a great week and the players have really enjoyed it.
“Even those that lost in the first round, having breakfast with them Friday morning, everyone wants to see it stay and it is for three years. I think we can do with more match play.
“You talk about all sorts of things, different formats of golf. Match play is not a strange format. It's almost the original format. It's a great test. And straight off 18-hole match play, if you lose, you go home, that's the way to do it I believe.
"It is great fun, match play. You can play weeks on end on the Tour without having that crucial moment where you have got to hit a good shot or hole the putt to win.
"Very often you only get those feelings to make the cut at those critical moments. Of course match play, you get them every day and every hole, they feel like that, as well. "It has been a great week and the players have really enjoyed it."
