Lawrie: ''I was hard on Paddy''

Open champion Paul Lawrie confessed today in Dubai that he made a mistake in the way he told his former caddie Paddy Byrne he was to be sacked last week.

Lawrie told Irishman Paddy Byrne that his services were no longer required ten minutes before his second round match against Billy Mayfair at the World Matchplay last week.

The Open Champion took advice from his coach, Adam Hunter and told Byrne the bad news. Byrne took it badly and left Lawrie without a bag for the forthcoming match and Hunter had to get 'special permission' from the tournament officials to fill the gap.

Byrne's family had thought that their son had done something bad to get the sack from Lawrie, but the Open Champion put their minds at ease and told them it was just a player-caddie relationship.
Lawrie met his former bagman Byrne, who lives in Dubai and the two had a reconciliation with both parties happy with the outcome. Byrne wished Lawrie all the best for the future and Lawrie admitted later:

"I probably gave Paddy a harder time than he deserved. There was a lot of pressure after the Open, but he did a fantastic job. I think he's had a great ride at it and sadly it's finished."

Thomas Bjorn's former bagman Martin Gray took over this week, but the Carnoustie Open Champion has still to make a long-term decision.