 |
| Getty Images |
Peter Lawrie can trace his poor performances directly to taking up a fitness regimen that included cutting Coca-Cola out of his diet in mid-2013. The effect on his golf game proving dramatic and costing his automatic laying rights on the European Tour.
Which he had held almost without fail since turning professional in 1997.
“I was addicted to it and I tried to stop it,” Lawrie told Newstalk "I was drinking litres of the stuff. Even in the hottest countries, like Malaysia, I would have Coke on the golf course, because I was addicted to it.”
“I went from such a high on sugar to a dramatic low,” he continued. “And I never recovered from it. I really didn’t. That was the one thing. I know this might shock people, but I lost all confidence in myself. I wouldn’t say I went for a breakdown, but I got exceptionally emotional at the end of that year and some of last year, as well. It was just very difficult to deal with all of the situations that were coming at me. Whether that had anything to do with my mental state in any shape or form, I have no idea.”
Lawrie explained that he is now on Coke again.
A factor that has coincided with newly found form in Kuala Lumpur last week when he fired a second round 66 at the Maybank Malysian Open - and a top twenty finish. A result which sees him currently sit 73rd in the Race to Dubai.
Dizzy heights for the Dubliner accustomed the past two seasons to being outside the top 100 - and chasing salvation at the season ending Perth International Open two years running.
Unfortunately failing last year and having to survive this year on sponsor invites.
“When you go through what I went through for the last 20-odd months, you have to look at every situation that you’ve been in and you think, ‘How did I get here?’ I’d spent the last five years as a consistent top-60 in the European Tour Order of Merit. I was exceptionally consistent. Then all of a sudden, I couldn’t even come close to making a cut.
“It just didn’t work. I don’t know whether it triggered something in my brain or whatever, but I wasn’t the same Peter Lawrie when I did it.”
“It’s been a long time coming, I have to admit. I’ve been in the doldrums for the last 20-odd months since the Irish Open 2013 so it’s been a long wait. Hopefully, I can keep it up there,”
“It’s tough this year, being on sponsors' invites the whole time. You’re writing begging letters, being a sole trader that I am, not with a big management group so it’s difficult but I’ll keep trying. When I get the opportunities it’s great to play well.”
