Scotland's 31-year-old Paul Lawrie opened with a disastrous 6 over par 78 Thursday and in the second round in ideal playing conditions, he was unable to turn the tide on a course he knows like the back of his hand.
With the exception of an excellent Ryder Cup debut in September, Lawrie has had a miserable time since his Open triumph at Carnoustie and his bad luck was underlined by a freak injury which hampered his Open preparations.
Giving lessons to a group of schoolchildren on Monday, Lawrie was rapped on the wrist as he moved behind one youngster who was making an unannounced backswing.
He missed a day's practice and needed anti-inflammatory treatment before playing in the former Open Champions gala tournament on Wednesday.
In a sign of things to come, Lawrie badly hooked his tee shot in that event to the left of the giant double fairway and it ended up comically in a spectator's plastic bag.
Ironically, as Lawrie bade a sad farewell, the man he beat so dramatically to take the title last year was rocketing up the leaderboard.
Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, who lost in a play-off to Lawrie after firing a triple bogey seven on the last hole of the tournament when a six would have given him the Open, picked up four strokes in 14 holes to move once more into contention - (AFP)
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