Paul Lawrie wins Johnnie Walker Championship

Paul Lawrie wins Johnnie Walker Championship (Getty Images)

published 27 August 2012

Scotland's Paul Lawrie finished four shots clear of Brett Rumford from Australia to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and boost his confidence ahead of the Ryder Cup.

Lawrie took a one-stroke lead over France's Romain Wattel into the final round at Gleneagles and he never really looked threatened as he cruised round in 68, finding 16 of 18 greens in regulation.

"It was probably one of the best ball striking weeks in my career," he said. "I've hit the ball a bit longer this week. I've been working on rhythm and when you hit it a bit longer, it helps a bit. It's been a fantastic week."

Lawrie had already secured a spot in Jose Maria Olazabal's Ryder Cup team, but this victory will do a great deal to boost the Scotsman's confidence. He will also move to his highest ever placing on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Brett Rumford finished strongly to end the week in second place. He came into the tournament ranked 109th on the Race to Dubai, but a cheque for almost €200,000 this week has secured his card for 2013.

Wattel posted a final round of 72 to finish tied for third with a resurgent Maarten Lafeber and Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden, who charged through the field with a closing 65.

Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium needed to finish first or second to overtake Martin Kaymer and secure the final automatic qualifying place for the European Ryder Cup team. He couldn't manage it and so Kaymer is the 10th man for Medinah.

Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire Aug 23-26, purse €1,778,500, par 72

1 Paul Lawrie (Sco) 68 69 67 68 272 €296,119 2 Brett Rumford (Aus) 67 70 71 68 276 €197,408 T3 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 69 70 65 277 €91,798 T3 Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 68 73 67 69 277 €91,798 T3 Romain Wattel (Fra) 74 68 63 72 277 €91,798 T6 Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 75 67 65 71 278 €49,926 T6 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 72 71 67 278 €49,926 T6 Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 72 68 69 69 278 €49,926 T6 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 69 71 70 68 278 €49,926

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage Where next? PGA Tour - Nick Watney wins The Barclays

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?