Lawrie ready for some Valderrama drama
Peter Lawrie can cap a magical month by putting Race to Dubai rivals Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer in the shade in Spain.
The Dubliner, 36, soared to a career high 105th in the world when he finished tied third behind teenage sensation Matteo Manassero in the Castelló Masters.
Now Lawrie is hoping it will be his turn to win again when he takes some red-hot form down the Spanish coast for this week’s Andalucia Valderrama Masters.
A massive 26 under par for his last eight rounds, Lawrie said: “Winning again is the main goal for the rest of the season.
“And I have always fancied myself around Valderrama to be honest with you because if you look at the courses where I have done well, they have all been a little bit hilly.
“I am quite good around courses where you have to go up and down and at Valderrama, you have to hit it in the right places, which is one of my strengths.”
Lawrie is on course for his best ever season after rocketing to 32nd in the Race to Dubai standings with earnings of €697,105.
He’s had six top 10s already this term but he’s desperate to get back into the winner’s circle for the second time.
The touring professional for Castleknock Golf Club made his breakthrough when he captured the 2008 Spanish Open after a play-off with Spain’s Ignacio Garrido.
He’s come close to adding a second title to his CV but lost play-offs for last year’s KLM Open and this season’s Czech Open.
But he’s feeling good about his chances at Valderrama after another great showing on Spanish soil at the weekend.
Lawrie said: “I love Spain and Spain seems to love me so I’m really looking forward to getting back to Valderrama.”
Winning won’t be easy with major champions McDowell and Kaymer set to continue their battle to become European No 1.
The German rose to world No 3 yesterday and he will oust Tiger Woods as world No 1 with a top-two finish at at the Cadiz course now owned by Greg Norman
Victory would make the reigning US PGA champion virtually unbeatable in the Race to Dubai as he is already almost €1m clear of McDowell at the top with just five events remaining on the 2010 schedule.
But US Open champion McDowell can reduce the massive gap considerably if he pockets the €500,000 top prize at a course where he had an albatross at the 17th in the Volvo Masters three years ago.
Lack of daylight at this time of year has forced organisers to limit the field to 98 players with only the top 50 and ties making the cut instead of the usual 65.
The battle to make the top 60 in the Race to Dubai standings who will contest the season ending Dubai World Championship is another highlight.
Rory McIlroy (14th) and Padraig Harrington (18th) are taking the week off but while Darren Clarke (28th) and Lawrie (32nd) look certain to make it to Dubai, another three Irishmen will be in Valderrama hoping for a big week.
Damien McGrane (54th) and Gareth Maybin (58th) will be fighting to move well inside the vital top-60 while 63rd ranked Shane Lowry is under pressure to make a move.
Ryder Cup vice captain Paul McGinley (130th) and Ulsterman Michael Hoey (95th) complete an eight-strong Irish contingent.
World rankings (Race to Dubai position in brackets)
1 Tiger Woods
2 Lee Westwood (3)
3 Martin Kaymer (1)
4 Phil Mickelson
5 Steve Stricker
6 Jim Furyk
7 Paul Casey (10)
8 Luke Donald (16)
9 Rory McIlroy (14)
10 Matt Kuchar
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Other Irish
13 Graeme McDowell (2)
19 Padraig Harrington (18)
102 Darren Clarke (28)
105 Peter Lawrie (32)
133 Shane Lowry (63)
165 Gareth Maybin (58)
167 Damien McGrane (54)
317 Michael Hoey (95)
400 Paul McGinley (130).