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Peter Lawrie secured his European Tour card for next season with a final round 70 and a share eighteenth place to finish with a cheque for €16,253 to seal 109th place in the Race to Dubai Rankings.
“I'm just glad it's over to be totally honest with you,” he said afterwards. “I've never felt so much pressure as the last eight weeks: can't sleep, can't eat properly, it’s just horrendous. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
“I got off to a great start, so it wasn't that much pressure, but jeepers, just coming down trying to get the job finished without making a mental error or doing something stupid, even finishing bogey, bogey.
“Finishing anywhere in the 20s I reckoned was going to get me to keep my card, but it's not easy, I can tell you that. It is not easy.
“Hopefully fly home and probably sleep for a change. Go home and be with the family and stop being grumpy.”
Finishing inside the cut off of 110th place ensures Lawrie returns next year without facing a fifth visit to Qualifying School to retain his playing rights. He celebrates this year eleven years on the European Tour and over five million Euro in earnings. So it is a valuable win after an indifferent season.
Lawrie was frank about his prospects two weeks ago, ahead of the second last event of the season, Portugal Masters admitting: "I've got one opportunity left to save my card and I've got to embrace it and try and play well," he added. "My form has been terrible for the past nine weeks but I've got to put all that behind me.
"I've tried to do everything right and, to be honest, I've done everything wrong. I've never been in this position before – 2002 was the last time I was trying to get on to the Tour. It's my own fault and it's up to me to get myself out of it."
Peter claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. Enjoyed a fine performance as defending champion in 2009, finishing tied third.
He also made history at the end of the 2003 season when he became the first Irish golfer to win the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.
Educated at the University College Dublin where he undertook a golf scholarship. Graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002, helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final.
The Dubliner graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002, helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final. His elevation to The European Tour was testament to his determination, having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour before achieving his goal.
Peter was capped at boys, youths and national level for Ireland as an amateur. In his early days as a professional, he played in Asia and Florida, gaining a ‘Mini Tour’ victory in America’s Sunshine State.
Last year Lawrie teed off in his first US Open last year, played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Factfile
Residence Dublin
Date of Birth: 22/03/1974
Place of Birth Dublin, Ireland
Family Wife: Philippa (m. 2003), Children: Jessica (2005), Amelia Jane (2007), Elizabeth (2009), Christopher (2011)
Interests: Snooker, football, cinema
Turned Pro 1997 (plus 2)
Qualifying School 1998, 99, (00), (01)
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