Once Lawrie, the last British winner of The Open, had shaken off the distress of his early alarm call, he came through with three birdies in the last five holes to shoot a three-under-par 69. Exclusion to the periphery clearly works for him. “I played beautifully, I was never off line all day and it was a decent start,” he said.
“It is not ‘cock-a-hoop time’ but it would be nice to kick on from that. If that is my worst score of the week, then I will have a chance to win.
THE OPEN 2010: CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE £5 GOLF BET!
“It would be nice if I hit the first shot in this championship and the last on Sunday.”
It is eight years since Lawrie’s last win, a slump which allowed the R&A to dole out his early tee time with a clear conscience. But the draw ended up playing into Lawrie’s hands with benign conditions and few distractions.
“The 4.45am alarm call was nice,” he said, through gritted teeth. “But it was flat calm out there at that time – you’re not going to get it any easier than it was for the first seven or eight holes. The R&A give you the draw and you play at the time they give you. I don’t have a problem with it.
“This is The Open Championship and, whether there are people there or not, you’re still trying to do your best. It is still the biggest event in the world.”
Lawrie enjoys a more civilised 11.41am tee-off time today.