PETER LAWRIE STATISTICS

Date of birth	22nd March 1974
Status	Married
Height	6'0"
Weight	11st
Turned Pro	1997 (+2)
Nationality	Irish
Residence	Dublin, Ireland
Interests	Snooker, Football, Film

GOLF TODAY (ONLINE PUBLICATION)

"Peter Lawrie has made history by becoming the first Irish Golfer to be named the European Tour's rookie of the year since it's inception in 1960. Lawrie, who turned professional in 1997 but only graduated to the European Tour after winning last year's Challenge Tour grand final, follows in the footsteps of players like Nick Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal." "This is a great accolade and, when you look at the great players who have won it in the past, it makes me feel very proud," Lawrie, the 1996 Irish amateur champion, said in a statement. "I...was amazed to discover that no Irishman had ever won it, especially when you think of how well people like Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington played early on in their careers on the European Tour."

Peter Lawrie of Castleknock Golf Club in Dublin, won his first professional tournament in the Open de España at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla in 2008.

Lawrie’s maiden European Tour title – secured at the second extra hole thanks largely to a superb bunker shot – followed the breakthrough victory of his close friend and compatriot Damien McGrane at the Volvo China Open, and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke’s first win for two-and-a-half years at last week’s BMW Asian Open.

Paddy Maguire, General Manager of Castleknock Golf Club in Dublin spoke of the immense support behind Peter at the Club. “We have been sponsoring Peter for the last three years and he has been a superb ambassador for Castleknock Golf Club, and it is great for the club to feel part of his maiden win.  All the staff and members were willing those putts to go in on the closing holes and play off. It was a fantasic day for Peter and his family and we are all looking forward to seeing him at the Castleknock Golf club this week”.

Sitting on eleven under par after 12 holes of his final round, Lawrie’s chances of victory appeared remote. But four birdies in his last six holes saw the 34 year old installed as the clubhouse leader on 15 under par.

Overnight leader Garrido – playing in the final group with compatriot Miguel Angel Jiménez – had toiled on the front nine, dropping three shots; but a revival after the turn meant he needed a birdie on the 72nd hole to take the tournament to a play-off.

The Spaniard, whose father Antonio won the Spanish Open in 1972, duly rolled in a superb 30ft putt on the 18th green to ensure there would be more drama on an already eventful day in Seville.  

And so to the play-off, with both men finding the fairway off the 18th tee. Lawrie landed his approach shot around 30 feet from the pin, whilst Garrido hit a sublime shot to within six feet of the hole.

Lawrie miraculously sunk his putt – via the left hand edge of the cup – to put the pressure back onGarrido. The Spaniard duly followed him in for birdie, meaning the pair returned to the 18th tee.

This time Lawrie found a fairway bunker, but found the heart of the green with a superbly struck eight iron from the sand. 

In contrast, Garrido could only look on in horror as his approach pitched at pin height, but spun viciously back into the lake guarding the green.

And so Lawrie, after Garrido had pitched on for four, was left with two putts to seal his maiden European Tour victory and claim a £262,000 winner’s cheque which saw him climb from 88th to 12th on the Order of Merit.

The man from Castleknock Golf Club , who in 2003 became the first Irishman to win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, said: “It feels unbelievable – I’m lost for words. I thought I’d already won the tournament once, because I didn’t think Ignacio would hole that putt on the 18th.

“So I had to regroup for the play-off, and ended up hitting one of the best putts of my life to keep myself in contention. It was a one in a hundred chance, and luckily it dropped in. I guess you have to get the rub of the green if you’re going to win a golf tournament these days.