Rare albatross for former champion Lawrie

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Former champion Paul Lawrie recorded a rare albatross two at the par-five seventh in Sunday's final round of the British Open.

The Scot, who won the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, struck a four-iron from 213 yards and watched as the ball bounced up on to the green and rolled into the cup.

It was only the sixth albatross in the championship since the R&A organisers started keeping detailed records in 1982.

The other five were achieved by Americans Bill Rogers (1983) and Jeff Maggert (2001), British pair Gary Evans (2004) and Greg Owen (2001) and South African-born Italian Manny Zerman (2000).

"The wind was a little off the left and I just hit a nice three-quarter four-iron," a smiling Lawrie told reporters. "I saw it go in which was kind of nice.

"It was lovely, my first one (albatross). It was just the perfect distance really and felt good."

BLUSTERY DAY

Lawrie, who began a blustery day on Turnberry's Ailsa Course 14 strokes off the lead, went on to card a two-under 68 for an eight-over total of 288.