Overnight co-leader Paul McGinley surrendered his position at the top of the leaderboard at the Dunhill Links Championship today and could only watch as playing partner Paul Lawrie captured a massive £551,040. The Scot achieved his first victory since the 1999 Open championship at St Andrews in dramatic style with a 40-foot putt on the 18th green. The 32-year-old looked set for a play-off with South African Ernie Els when his pitch to the last landed in the Valley of Sin. However, not only did he manage to get down in two, he holed, to secure first prize.
Lawrie and McGinley enjoyed very different starts to their final rounds today, with the Dubliner driving his first tee shot into the Swilcan Burn and therefore surrendering the outright lead to Lawrie who remained alone at the top of the leaderboard until the 17th hole where he three putted just as Els rolled in a 15-foot birdie on the 18th. That meant Lawrie needed a birdie at the last to take the title and despite his bad pitch, the Scot saved himself with that wonderful putt.
McGinley eventually finished six shots behind Lawrie on 12-under. After his disastrous start, he managed to birdie the fifth and eighth but suffered badly on the back nine where he bogeyed the 13th, 16th and 17th holes. After starting the day top of the leaderboard, McGinley did not even finish top Irish player at the tournament, with fellow Dubliner Padraig Harrington taking that accolade by one shot, finishing tied for fifth on 13-under. Darren Clarke finished with a 70 today to leave him lying tied for 24th place on 9-under.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
