Paul Lawrie’s perspective on the life-changing hour and a half that made him an Open champion twenty years ago has mellowed with the years, but the memory of it remains fresh.
The Carnoustie Open of 1999 has lingered long in most memories because of the epic farce of Jean van de Velde’s collapse on the 72nd hole.
But after that, there was still four holes to play to determine the champion golfer, with Lawrie, the Frenchman and the USA’s Justin Leonard – surely the favourite having won the Claret Jug just two years previously – contesting the title in trying circumstances.
“Chaos,” recalls Lawrie. “It wasn’t like it is now, with everything controlled. There were hundreds of people inside the ropes, it was ridiculous how many people there were.
“It was raining pretty hard, and it was pretty cold. It must have been eight o’clock before the play-off got started, I’d been hanging around for a good hour and a half.
“I pretty much remember every shot, exactly where I hit it. But if you want to go through it, blow-by-blow, I’ll need a caddie fee!”
Joking aside, Lawrie had prepared himself for that moment, his final round 67 catapulting him from an also-ran on the final day to one of the final three.
“I got lucky by even getting the opportunity, but you’ve still got to take it and I feel as though I did,” he said. “It’s your job. That’s why you hit all those balls, it’s what you train for, to get an opportunity like that. You’ve got to take it.”
After a few 15th tee nerves – all three drove into the rough – Lawrie felt composed.
“I felt brilliant, very calm, very clear,” he said. “It’s the same as in every tournament. I get nervous on the first tee then, once I walk off the tee, I’m fine. I’m totally in the zone, totally OK once I get started.
Van de Velde’s mind was, in contrast, understandably scrambled.
“Jean’s mind was all over the place when he came in,” continued Lawrie. “He left his hat in the recorder’s hut, had to go and get that. All that took a bit of time and he was worried about that.
“I’d something to eat, chipped and putted, and I had a bit of time to get myself calmed down and get myself ready for what could be an unbelievable thing to happen to me.”
Lawrie was so in the zone he hit two career shots within the space of 20 minutes – a six-iron to the heart of the 17th green for birdie, and the famous four-iron to four feet at the 18th which, with Leonard in the Barry Burn and van de Velde nowhere, was just an embellishment on victory.
Later, the pressure and the sense that he hadn’t been given credit for his victory caused the Scot to seek treatment for depression, but he’s long since come to terms with the day.
The 20th anniversary will be celebrated properly back at Carnoustie in two weeks, and especially honoured will the man who calmed him down in the time between completing his round and the play-off, his late coach Adam Hunter.
“We’ve got a pro-am at Carnoustie, raising money for the Beatson Institute, where Adam was treated, and also my own foundation – we’re splitting the proceeds.
“Then we have a 20th anniversary putter we’ve made, it’s got the Claret Jug on it and they’re all numbered one to 99, with my logo on the bottom.
‘They’re absolutely stunning – and all the proceeds will go to the foundation.”
In the meantime Lawrie goes to Portrush, but admist his play is not “Open standard” at present.
“I’m hugely looking forward to Portrush, I’ve played there a couple of times before once with Darren (Clarke) because he donated a round for an auction to commemorate Adam and friends of mine bought it.
“That’s the first time I played it – and oh man, it just blew me away. We then played the Irish Open there. So I’m looking forward to it.
“Darren’s like me, he’s been playing the Seniors since last year and hasn’t played main Tour events since then. But people in Portrush will know exactly what he has done, what he has achieved as a past Major winner.
“And he went back to live in the town so, I mean, the reception for him will be huge. No question about that, and he deserves it.”
