Designer McGinley Opens North Course

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Paul McGinley was on hand to open his latest design project, the redeveloped North Course at the prestigious Quinta do Lago resort, part of The European Tour Properties portfolio.

The popular Irishman has redesigned the layout in close collaboration with renowned American architect Beau Welling. The €9.6m redevelopment is part of the €29m investment programme that has already been undertaken by Quinta do Lago since 2009, with a further €21m earmarked for improving its facilities over the next three years.

The redesign sees McGinley strengthen his association with a resort which he has often frequented over the past 20 years. In 2011, the Irishman opened his Paul McGinley Golf Academy, before launching a new state-of-the-art TaylorMade Fitting Centre last year.

McGinley said: “This has been a very exciting project to be involved in, and Beau and I are very proud of what we have created.

“I’ve been coming to Quinta do Lago with my family for many years now, and it keeps getting better and better. The new design will test golfers in many different ways, and I believe this is a great addition.”

The new layout has been built to the highest specifications, with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. Whilst many modern-day venues tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley were keen to design a course where accuracy and course management are the key factors.

The renovation has also allowed Quinta do Lago to further reduce the impact on the environment by using recycled water and solar energy to maintain the course. The reduction of grassed areas will lessen the impact on the environment, and the new design will include the creation of some new animal and plant habitats.

Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago has become one of the most highly-regarded golf and residential developments in the Algarve since it opened in 1972.

Located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, the resort offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.

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Lawrie Retains Tour Card

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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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Last Race for Lawrie and Higgins

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It will be last chance saloon this week at the ISPS Handa Perth International - for Peter Lawrie and David Higgins - and a number of players who will be fighting for European Tour survival in the final regular tournament of the 2013 season.

The Tour heads down under to Lake Karrinyup Country Club before the inaugural Final Series, so it will be the last opportunity for those outside or on the bubble of 110th place in The Race to Dubai to secure their playing rights for 2014.

Only the top 110 players are assured of a full exemption for next year, so for Englishman Richard Bland, currently 109th, a good performance in Australia is crucial. A tied 26th place finish in last week’s Portugal Masters, where he shot a six under par 65 in the final round, helped his cause, and he is high on confidence as he looks to guarantee a sixth consecutive season on The European Tour.

“The last round in Portugal helped massively,” said the 40 year old, who kept his card last season by finishing in the last exempt spot. “At least I’m going there playing well. I played the last 45 holes without dropping a shot, which in the current situation is something to be very proud of.

“It’s a great course and I absolutely loved it when we played there last year. It’s a shame it’s so far away, but needs must. There were a few guys below the 110 mark who did well last week, but Sunday’s round maybe made things a little more difficult for them and a bit easier for me.

“I’ve still got a job to do in Perth, but with the way I’m playing there’s no reason why I can’t do it. 

“This year has been tough. I don’t think I’ve played a week all year without an injury. I’m having an operation on my right knee at the end of the season and I had a double stress fracture in my pelvis early in the year. Since I turned 40 my body is giving up!”

Bland will be joined by many of the players in and around the magic number of 110 with James Kingston (111th), Peter Lawrie (114th) and David Higgins (115th) hoping to do enough to finish the week in the position that Bland is currently occupying.

Others such as Joel Sjöholm (150th), James Morrison (138th) and Oliver Fisher (122nd) have more to do, but with a prize fund of US$2million there is all to play for.

Further up The Race to Dubai, a number of players are heading to Perth aiming to break into the top 60, which is the cut-off for qualification for the lucrative season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Danny Willett is in 70th place and Ross Fisher 65th, while Justin Walters will have a strong end to the season in mind after a runner-up finish in Portugal elevated him from 126th to 71st, just a fortnight after the death of his mother.

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