I can still make Ryder Cup team, says Lawrie

PAUL Lawrie believes he can return to Europe’s Ryder Cup side after a gap of 11 years next October – even though he still has not won since 2002.

Qualifying for Colin Montgomerie’s side starts in Switzerland on Thursday, and Lawrie, who earned £80,000 for his efforts, has been buoyed rather than deflated by a third-place finish in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

“I feel the things I’m working on and the way my game is I’ve got a real chance at making that team,” said the 40-year-old former Open champion who, from leading by two at halfway, finished three shots behind Sweden’s Peter Hedblom.

“You’ve got to think that. I could have easily won. It’s a fine line and this week it was just incredibly fine.

“If you’re third it’s a good week and it was another solid week of ball-striking.

“The worst I could have finished was 10 under – that’s how I see it.

“I’ve had two short misses with the ball bobbling over the green and I’ve had two shots rolling over the pin and made bogey off both. That’s hard to take.”