A cuddle from The King, what other inspiration could Paul Lawrie need to challenge for the lead in the 144th Open, 16 years on from when he won the Claret Jug?
The Scot, now 46, is tucked one behind first round leader Dustin Johnson after 18 holes in an uncommonly benign first few hours at St Andrews. The wind got up for later starters to leave the first wave the first day advantage, but the advantage is expected to switch with the field reverted today, only in far more pronounced fashion with strong winds forecast for this afternoon.
One question was would playing in the sunshine in Wednesday’s Champions Challenge be a distraction for those still competitive enough to have designs on doing well in the championship? For some, it might seem so, but not Lawrie, who finally found a shaft of light after a season-long struggle with nagging injuries and a putter that refused to find the hole.
Playing with Arnold Palmer in the ceremonial event turned out to be an inspiration for the 1999 Open champion, getting a celebratory hug from the twice Open champion when his final putt ensured victory for the team.
“Unbelievably cool to play with him,” said Paul. “He just hit two shots, but just to be out there with him, I absolutely loved it. Got a wee hug at the last and he said, fantastic playing. That was a nice moment.”
Lawrie also holed out from the fairway at the second in the Challenge, and holing out from a bunker bringing probably the day’s biggest cheer on the course at the same hole got him started yesterday.
Shot of the day, however, by anyone on the premises, was at 14 when he’d hit into the Coffins, come out sideways, and then lost his three-wood approach well right, going behind the 15th tee.
With Johnson, tied with him on seven-under at the time, watching over an advertising hoarding, Paul had a perfect distance on a wedge, 123 yards, and it finished at tap-in distance for an escape par.
The key was however holing a number of good length putts, something that has eluded him this season.
“On the greens, I’ve been hitting good putts, very few poor ones, but they haven’t dropped,” he said. “I put a new grip on it, the Super Stroke one that everyone seems to be using, and I took juist about every chance I had today, which hasn’t happened for a while.
“I played well in Munich, hit it much better at Gullane, and hit it awesome in the Champions Challenge, so I’ve been steadily feeling it’s been getting better for a while.
“It’s only the first round, there’s an unbelievable amount of world class players this week, so I’m not thinking about Sunday. I’m only thinking about my lunch.”
As for the weather changing for the worst today, the player much renowned as being the best on the European Tour in a rain jacket he wore one all yesterday although there was barely a drop doesn’t want it, but will deal with it if he has to.
“I never think or wish for bad weather, and I have actually won tournaments in nice weather,” he said of his persistent reputation of preferring tough conditions.
“But getting upset or frustrated about it is going to cost you shots. My attitude is a little better and I tend to get on with it. What can you do, you’ve just got to try and shoot the best score you can shoot.”
The same applied to yesterday’s five hour round, and dealing with the commotion of the crowds with Jordan Spieth and Johnson up ahead, and Tiger Woods directly behind.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” he said. “Sometimes you get close to the best and there’s a little commotion, you have to back off.
“Not a concern, not a worry. You just wait until it’s your turn, put your gloive back on and hit your shot. No problem.”
With the wind coming in with a vengeance when Lawrie and his fellow leaders are due out tomorrow, that experience will be vital.