Golfhacker: Issue 12

“It was a victory that
literally changed my
life,” Lawrie said. “I
was a very good player
before The Open, but
all of a sudden, I was
The Open Champion –
a big difference. People
forget I had to qualify
to get in.”
Image: Flickr/Vinod Divakaran
point, Lawrie must have still thought
Sitting in the clubhouse there must
have been a lot going through the
that the Frenchman’s coronation was
a formality. Then the leader entered
mind of Paul Lawrie as the events of
the final round of the 1999 Open
Barry Burn with his second. With his
ball in the water, the shoes and socks
Championship were unfolding. He had
came off as he desperately thought
already done all he could do. Starting
the final round 10 shots behind the
about what to do next. He opted to
be sensible and take a stroke
leader, Jean Van De Velde, Lawrie
had climbed up in leaderboard in style
penalty. From here he could still win
the Open Championship.
with a four under par round. All he
now could do was watch and hope.
As the world watched, the nature of
his collapse was there for all to see.
Approaching the final hole of the
128th Open Championship at
He would then enter the greenside
bunker. All of a sudden Paul Lawrie
Carnoustie, Jean Van De Velde held a
three shot lead over Lawrie and a two
was preparing himself for a play off.
The engraver was now scratching
shot lead over his nearest rival, Justin
Leonard. A cool head was needed to
through Van De Velde’s name from
the Claret Jug. The four hole play off
negotiate the last hole. He was only
487 yards away from golfing
would feature the home favourite.
Scotland could believe once again.
immortality. What happened next
would reverberate around the world.
The three men were evenly matched
A wild tee shot saw Van De Velde
for the first two play off holes before
enter the thick rough. Even at this