Paul Lawrie claimed his first victory in seven years by winning the Scottish Seniors Open at Craigielaw GC. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PAUL Lawrie won the Scottish Senior Open to claim his first Staysure Tour title in front of a home crowd at Craigielaw Golf Club.

The 1999 Open Champion battled gusty conditions throughout the final round to record a level par round of 71 to win his maiden over-50s title by two shots ahead of Peter Baker and Peter Fowler.

The Scotsman, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Major success at Carnoustie Golf Links in July, made the turn in 33 strokes, which was two-under par, and battled hard in the blustery conditions on the back nine to card a round of 71.

After battling injury last season and having turned 50 at the beginning of the year, Lawrie was delighted to clinch an inaugural win on the over-50s circuit, especially on home soil.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in Scotland and that is my fourth win in my home country and I’m very proud of that,” said Lawrie who has always been regarded as one of the better foul-weather players on Tour, especially since coming from 10 shots back to beat Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard in that infamous play-off at Carnoustie.

“I think a lot of the players struggle to play in their own country with expectations on them,” added Lawrie, who hails from Aberdeen.

“But I’ve always felt comfortable playing in front of Scottish people.

“It doesn’t matter what tour it is, winning is difficult – it’s not easy. Peter Baker did a top effort to get in the house at level par.

“So my job was to get in at one-under – that was the only job I was thinking about, and I managed to finish one better than that.

“I’ve not won since 2012 on the European Tour. Obviously, I’m a senior now and I’m playing senior events.

“I want to be one of the top players on the Staysure Tour and I want to be one of the top seniors, so this win is a massive step to doing that.

“My game has been getting betting for a few weeks and I’ve been telling people that I’m getting there and I’m going to win soon.

“The Senior Open was the first week where I felt my foot and my back were where I needed them to be.

“My surgeon, Gordon Mackay, said it would take a year for my foot to be right.

“I thought my career was over with my foot the way that it was, but Gordon McKay did a great job.”

Baker, the winner of Senior Open Hauts de France in June, recorded a 70 to finish two strokes behind Lawrie in a share of second place with Australian Fowler, another wind specialist.

But the overnight leader was unable to follow his impressive five-under par 66 as he signed for a disappointing four over par 75.

Englishman David Shacklady and Austrian Markus Brier completed the top five as they finished at one-over.

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KIWI Michael Campbell has ensured this year’s Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw Golf Club will be a star-studded affair with the biggest gathering of Major Champions in the event’s 27-year history.

Campbell, who captured the 2005 US Open Championship by holding off Tiger Woods at Pinehurst No. 2, will join fellow Major winners Sandy Lyle, Paul Lawrie and Ian Woosnam in a high-class field for the £250,000 event in East Lothian, from August 16-18.

An eight-time winner on the European Tour, Campbell turned 50 in February and has played on the Staysure Tour recently at The Senior Open, and last week at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, where he eagled the 72nd hole to finish in a share of second place.

However, the visit to Craigielaw – which hosts the tournament for a second successive year – almost represents something of a ‘homecoming’ for Campbell, who can trace his Scottish ancestry back to his great-great-great grandfather, Sir Logan Campbell, who emigrated to New Zealand and became Mayor of Auckland.

Scotland almost provided the Wellington golfer with his first Major Championship, as he led by two shots after three rounds of The Open over the famous Old Course at St Andrews in 1995.

In the event, he faded with a closing 76 to take third place behind John Daly and Costantino Rocca.

Without doubt, 2005 was the high spot of his professional career. In addition to landing the US Open, he also picked up £1million – then the biggest prize in golf – by beating Paul McGinley in the final of the World Match Play at Wentworth.

He was honoured in the New Year Honours List in 2006 by being made a Companion of New Zealand’s Order of Merit.

Campbell will be renewing old acquaintances at Craigielaw with Lyle, winner of The Open in 1985 and the 1988 Masters Tournament, Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion and Welshman Woosnam, who slipped on the Green Jacket as Masters winner in 1991.

Campbell is set to tee it up in Scotland for the first time in six years and admitted he is looking forward to competing on Scottish links once again.

“It’s been a few years since I played in Scotland,” said Campbell. “I think my last appearance was in the Dunhill Links Championship when I hurt my achilles tendon and had to pull out after three holes.

“However, I have some great memories of the Home of Golf. I will never forget my first appearance at St Andrews in The Open in 1995 when I led by two shots after three rounds – and just missed out of a play-off with John Daly and Costantino Rocca. It was an amazing experience.

“Although I don’t have first-hand knowledge of Craigielaw, I’ve played several of the courses in East Lothian over the years.

“I remember shooting 59 at Kilspindie – and I look forward to going back to that special part of the country.”

Entrance to the course is free and parking is only £5 in aid of Longniddry & District Rotary Club.

With proof of purchase of a ticket to the recent Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open there is no charge for parking.

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