Paul Lawrie used Twitter to set up a half round of practice today with the man he believes to be “the greatest Scottish golfer”.
The former Open champion, an avid tweeter these days, will team up with another, Sandy Lyle, as the two Scots in the field at the Masters play the back nine at Augusta National, bringing back memories for Lawrie of his bedroom 25 years ago.
“I watched Sandy win the Masters when I was still living with my mum and dad in Kemnay. I was an assistant pro at Banchory and had been for 18 months,” recalled Lawrie.
“I was interested because a Scot was winning the Masters but also because I had a wee bet on him, since he’d won the Greensboro Open the week before.
“I can’t remember how much I won because it was that long ago but I do remember him in the final round he kind of gave it away a wee bit but he then came back to win it.
“For me, Sandy is the greatest Scottish golfer. When you’ve got two majors, three Order of Merits and six wins in America, I think that trumps any other guy for me.
“He’s won the World Matchplay, the Players, the Open and Masters that’s a huge career so he is by far the best modern day Scottish golfer in my eyes. And man, if he hits that one iron past my driver once more I swear I’m going to throttle him!”
Today’s practice round also brings back memories of 20 years ago, when Paul was in his first Open at Muirfield in 1992.
“I played a practice round with Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Michael Welsh. It was my first year on tour and I just cheekily put my name beside the three of them.
“I think Woosie was helping Michael a bit because they are from the same sort of area. So when we got on the first tee Woosie said to Sandy: ‘I’ll take Michael and you take Paul and we had a wee game’.
“It was good fun and for a guy on his first year on tour it was fantastic to be playing with Woosie, who had won the Masters the year before and Sandy had two majors obviously.
“They had no idea obviously who I was but they made me feel so comfortable, they were brilliant.
“Sandy and Woosie have always been fantastic throughout my time on tour, they’re just normal guys, good lads.”
Paul’s own return to Augusta after a long gap last year was a memorable occasion, his first round featuring two eagles and playing in the top 10 in the final round, only to go off the boil on the Sunday.
“I played with Lee Westwood and really struggled,” he admitted. “I had played beautifully all week, my short game was magnificent and I even chipped in a couple of times in the first round.
“Then all of a sudden I played worse on the Sunday, missed a few short ones and shot 76.
Lee just played just magnificently, he shot four-under and never holed a putt. I didn’t play very well that day, but it was nice to be back at Augusta again as I hadn’t been there for a while, and to be in the top 10 playing the final round.
“So I’ll go back with good feelings and just hope to play better on the Sunday.”
Lawrie has had four weeks off prior to the tournament, watching sons Craig and Michael play in the Scottish Boys’ Championship at Monifieth last week.
“Four weeks off before a major could be a bit of an issue for a few players, but I am always swinging a club or hitting a ball so four weeks at home before going to the Masters will not make any difference to my performance,” he added.
“My putting has been terrible, just awful. I don’t know where I am in the stats now, but the last time I looked I was 181 out of 186.
“I have been hitting the ball great from tee to green I just can’t get the ball in the hole. That is disappointing.
“I’ve played six times at the Masters, and I’ve putted magnificently. My stroke is quite long and slow so when the greens are fast like at Augusta I normally hole my fair share.
“At Augusta it is all about your second shot. It has always been a second-shot golf course, and the speed of the greens that’s what the Masters is all about.”