Paul Lawrie to host new match play tournament in Scotland

London: Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie is to host a new match play event in his native Scotland for the next three years.

The 64-man Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play, carrying a prize fund of one million euros ($1.24 million), will make its debut on the calendar at Murcar Links in Aberdeen from July 30-Aug. 2.

"It`s fantastic to be bringing another European Tour event to my home town of Aberdeen," the 1999 Open champion said in a news release on Friday.

"Match play is a format that we don`t get to play too often out on tour so it`s an exciting opportunity for an elite knockout tournament to come to Scotland."

The 45-year-old Lawrie, who has twice represented Europe in the Ryder Cup, has a good match play record.

He picked up three and a half points on his Ryder Cup debut in 1999 and also played his part in the `Miracle of Medinah` two years ago, defeating Brandt Snedeker in the singles as Europe produced a dramatic comeback victory.

Lawrie also reached the quarter-finals of the WGC-Match Play Championship in 2000 and was third in the Volvo World Match Play two years ago.