Lawrie revels in maiden win

Dubliner breaks European Tour title duck at 175th attempt

Last updated: 6th May 2008

lawrie peter

Lawrie: Dramatic win

I'm lost for words, to be honest with you. I'm not a party person, but I will enjoy this.

Peter Lawrie
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Peter Lawrie admitted he had endured a rollercoaster of emotions before clinching his maiden European Tour triumph at the 175th attempt.

The Dubliner got the better of Spaniard, and long-time leader, Ignacio Garrido at the second play-off hole to win the Spanish Open in Seville.

But that tells only half the story as the title swung first one way then the next during the closing stages of a dramatic final day at the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.

Lawrie looked to set for victory in regulation play before Garrido sunk a stunning thirty-foot putt on the 72nd green to force a play-off.

The Spaniard then looked odds-on to triumph on the first extra hole having put his approach to three feet only for Lawrie to respond with an inspired long-range putt of his own to keep the contest alive.

The Irishman was eventually gifted victory as, going down the 18th for a second time, Garrido spun his approach back off the green and into the water that guarded it.

It was a sweet moment for Lawrie who had waited some 12 years for his breakthrough success.

Lost for words

"I'm lost for words, to be honest with you," he stated. "I'm not a party person, but I will enjoy this."

Lawrie's win was the third in a row on the Tour by an Irishman following on from Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke's victories in China.

"Damien won so easily - he didn't have to go through this pain and torture," Lawrie continued. "(Their wins) spur you on," added Lawrie. "You play practice rounds with them and you think 'why can't I do that?', but it gives you self-belief."

The win has catapulted Lawrie from 56th on the Order of Merit to 12th, ahead of both Clarke and Open champion Padraig Harrington.