Sometimes of the person, he simply doesn’t need the fuss.
“I’m unsure,” he mentioned when requested if St Andrews may be his remaining championship.
The a hundred and fiftieth Open may be Paul Lawrie’s final, however he’s not planning any farewells on the Previous Course subsequent week.
“I don’t need to say it’s my final one as individuals make a little bit of a fuss, actually.”
How a lot does he wish to keep away from that? When Lawrie stood down competitively from the European Tour in 2020, it was on the Scottish Open on the Renaissance – the Covid model, when there have been no spectators.
He needed to be cajoled by DP World Tour gamers’ liaison David Park to even admit he was retiring. Even the coterie of mates, fellow gamers, officers and media who clapped him on to the 18th inexperienced was an excessive amount of consideration for Paul.
His epic victory in 1999 at Carnoustie means he’s exempt for the Open till he’s 60, in 2029. However after lacking the 2018 championship on the website of his win by damage, Lawrie didn’t enter Sandwich final yr.
“I’m by no means going to be somebody who’s allowed to play simply because he’s exempt if I can’t compete,” he continued. “So I’d be shocked if this wasn’t the final one.
“I in all probability wouldn’t have performed this yr if it hadn’t been St Andrews or Carnoustie. I’ll simply wait and see how I really feel going ahead.
“I’ve not been a ok participant to face on the Swilcan Bridge and wave goodbye, like a number of of them have rightly executed like (Jack) Nicklaus and (Tom) Watson. I’m by no means going to do this.
“In the intervening time I’m planning on enjoying greater than this one, however we’ll see.”
Maybe his Legends Tour win final month – every week on from dropping a play-off – and week at St Andrews would possibly persuade him to push on. However, within the meantime, he has a number of treasured reminiscences of the championship, significantly on the Previous Course.
“The Champions’ Dinner (solely ever held at St Andrews) is at all times cool,” he mentioned. “The Champions Problem, final time we had it, was good.
