Paul Lawrie and Jean Van de Velde, two of the players who supplied so much drama, heartache and glory in the 128th Open Championship at Carnoustie, renew their rivalry in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club.
The two players exchanged friendly greetings before Thursday’s Pro-Am over the beautifully manicured K Club course – but now it’s back to business for Lawrie, the Scot who lifted the Claret Jug, and Van de Velde, the Frenchman who saw it snatched from his grasp.
It has been a turbulent time for both men since the shenanigans at Carnoustie, where Van de Velde took seven at the last and Lawrie went on to win the three-man play-off which also included Justin Leonard.
For a start, both postbags have been bulging with mail from all corners of the globe, such was the stir of excitement in the game created by Van de Velde’s very public trials and tribulations on the 72nd hole and Lawrie’s resolve in grabbing the ultimate prize with both hands.
Lawrie said: “I’ve received literally thousands of letter since the Open. The postman arrives every day with a lovely big pile. I’ve read every single one and it’s been fun. Half of the letters have just said: ‘Paul Lawrie, 1999 Open champion, Aberdeen’ and they’ve got to my house. Incredible.”
The new champion, who realises that his life has been changed by four days on the windswept Angus links, revealed the moment he suddenly woke up to the fact that he was the Open champion, of all things.
He recalled: “It was the Sunday night after the tournament was over. I tried to sleep but couldn’t. We left the Claret Jug on the mantelpiece and went to bed. We were back downstairs in 20 minutes and I kind of opened the door and had a wee look – and it was still sitting there! It was a strange feeling.”
While Lawrie has to deal with an Aladin’s Cave of riches, including a Ryder Cup debut in September and numerous invites for his services, Van de Velde can only reflect on what might have been.
But, even now with the benefit of hindsight, the Frenchman regrets nothing of that remarkable 72nd and last hole of the tournament. He insisted that there have been worst tragedies in the world and meant every word of it. He has been incredibly sanguine about what happened, but insists: “I don’t want anybody to feel any pity for me.
“It’s a game. I gave it my best shot and I came very close. There was a sad ending – but the entertainment was pretty nice. Hopefully I can get the chance to do it again next year.”
As with Lawrie, he has received mail by the sackful – including one unusual missive with an English postmark. He laughed: “An English fan wrote me a nice letter and put on the address part: Jean Van de Velde, South-Western France.
“He then cut out a picture of me from the newspaper with my shoes and socks off, glued it to the front of the envelope and drew a big arrow that said: ‘That’s him’. It reached me in Geneva within four days!”
