Lawrie ends drought as McGinley slips back

Paul Lawrie overcame a slow start to win the Open de Andalucia in Malaga. (Photo Eoin Clarke/Golffile 2011)Scotland’s Paul Lawrie ended his nine-year wait for a European Tour victory when he claimed the Open de Andulacia thanks to a brilliant back nine performance at the Parador de Malaga.

But Dubliner Paul McGinley slipped to a final round, five-over par 75 that dashed his hopes of claiming his first top-10 finish in 18 months.

Lawrie battled back from bogeys at his first two holes and another dropped shot at the fifth by reeling off four birdies in five holes at the start of the back nine.

He bogeyed the last but his level par 70 was enough for a one stroke on 12 under par from Swede Johan Edfors (68) with McGinley slipping from 23rd to tied 45th on level par.

Paul McGinley was in trouble at the opening hole.A 69 would have given McGinley his best finish since last year’s share of 14th at the Irish Open but he bogeyed the first, fourth and sixth, double bogeyed the seventh and dropped another shot at the 11th to slide down the leaderboard.

The 44-year old made his lone birdie of a difficult day at the par-three 13th and while there were a lot of positives for him during the week, he will be hoping to improve further in next week’s Hassan II Trophy in Morocco.

Lawrie, who won the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, was understandably delighted with a win worth €166,660.

“It’s been a long time - 2002 seems a hell of a time ago,” he said. “I’ve had a few second places in there, but all of a sudden we’re there again.

“It was going pear-shaped a little bit, but you’ve just got to keep going - that’s all you can do. I played lovely and the putter behaved better. I got on a nice run at the right time.”