Paul Lawrie: Top two are two of slowest

• Paul Lawrie and D.J. Russell keen for pace of play action
• The pair were promoting a ticket offer at Archerfield Links
• Buy your Paul Lawrie Match Play tickets (Aug 4-7) here

The R&A is widely tipped to release a Pace of Play manual next week – with 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and European Senior Tour player D.J. Russell intrigued at what its findings will be.

Speaking at Archerfield Links, the pair were promoting a ticket offer for the Paul Lawrie Match Play (August 4-7) and Scottish Senior Open (August 19-21) – both of which will take place at the East Lothian venue – with those who buy tickets to the PL Match Play granted free entry to the Scottish Senior Open.

Lawrie, a strong advocate against slow play, is frustrated about how long it takes to complete a round on the European Tour now than what it did when he first joined more than 20 years, with particular concerns about Jordan Spieth and Jason Day.

“Our two best players are two of the slowest,” said Paul Lawrie. “It’s not ideal, is it? My first year on Tour was 1992 and golf didn’t take anywhere near the time that it takes now. Everyone just hit it and got on with it.

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“The amount of people that leave their clubs in the wrong place – it all takes time. I mean, on the Tour, week-in and week-out, you get a guy who’s last to play who doesn’t have their glove on, club out or yardage sorted when it’s his turn and it just takes forever. Just being ready when it’s your turn is the big thing.

“Just being ready when it’s your turn is the big thing” – Paul Lawrie

“However, I played with Renato Paratore at Valderrama and his ball was in the air before I was back at my golf bag. At least two or three times I watched my shot, turned to put my club in the bag, and his ball was in the air. It was fantastic.”

Russell, a two-time European Tour winner who is attached to Archerfield Links, echoed Lawrie’s sentiments and admitted that pace of play has also started to get slower on the Senior Tour.

“I think the long-term Senior Tour players are in a pretty good routine but some of those who have only recently come on Tour – it’s very noticeable how slow they can be and that’s a shame.

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“Now these kids are taught by watching TV and these coaches telling them to have a routine. Routines are fine, but as long as you’re ready when it’s your turn to go. A lot of them aren’t.

“It’s not great when you’ve got the world’s best players, like Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, taking all this time. It’s not setting a great example to people coming into the game and that’s why I think it’s important that the powers that be do something about it. If you upset people along the way, at the end of the day it’s for the good of the game.”

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Paul Lawrie Match Play :: Get your tickets

Day tickets for the Paul Lawrie Match Play at Archerfield Links are priced at £15 for adults, with U18s able to enter for free. In order to qualify for free admission to the Scottish Senior Open, adult spectators must retain their ticket from the PL Match Play or show proof of purchase on the gate. Order your tickets for the 2016 Paul Lawrie Match Play at Archerfield Links from August 4-7. Book at www.europeantour.com/tickets. For more information on the event, visit www.paullawriematchplay.com.