Lawrie appoints Westwood Caddie

Open Champion Paul Lawrie has reacted quickly to sign Mick Doran, the caddy sacked last week by Lee Westwood.

Westwood handed his long-time Surrey-based bag carrier notice after missing
the halfway cut in last fortnights U.S. Masters.

The English golfer finished with an eight over at Augusta, the only occasion
he's been forced out of the final rounds in four appearances, and a result that
saw Westwood drop to 11th on the world rankings.

Lawrie was forced into a corner after current caddy, Colin Byrne, indicated
he was not keen on travelling to America with the Open champ.

"Colin told me that he just didn't want to caddy in America and that he
doesn't feel comfortable caddying in the States," said Lawrie

"So after he decided he didn't want to keep going, so I had to look for
another caddy.

"I'm looking forward to Mick working for me and he should be really, really
good and hopefully we should strike up a good partnership."

After news of Doran's sacking, Lawrie confirmed he contacted Darren Clarke
to obtain Byrne's phone number and 'took if from there'.

Byrne took over carrying Lawrie's clubs at last month's Dubai Desert
Classic, less than a week after the Scot sacked Paddy Byrne (no relation) on
the eve of the Scot's Andersen Consulting Match-Play Championship
quarter-final match.

Byrne, who has worked for some seasons with New Zealand's Greg Turner, is
rejoining the Kiwi, who competes in Europe for a first time in 2000 at next
month's French Open.

During the five years Doran has been with Westwood, the Worksop player
has chalked up 18 international victories including nine on the European
Tour and the unique distinction of a tournament victory on each continent.

Now Lawrie is looking for the same inspiration starting at next month's
Benson and Hedges International Open where the pair will begin working together.