Dubliner Peter Lawrie is so busy counting his money he hasn't got time to spend it.

The 29 year old has amassed €293,961 in his first season on the main tour and he's determined to keep raking it in.

Beaten in a play-off for the Spanish Open title in April, his cheque for ¤151,995 was enough to virtually guarantee his card for 2003.

Five cheques from seven events since then have made sure of his playing rights for 2003.

But the Newlands favourite still got a lot of goals to achieve before he takes a break.

He said: "This is my first year and tour and retaining my card was my number one goal. Up to Spain I had played quite well and nothing had gone for me.

"Now my main goal is to try and get into the Volvo Masters, which is for the top 60, so I am going well at the moment because I am 32nd in the money list."

Lawrie gave himself five years to make it as a professional after turning to the paid ranks in 1997.

And he did it by finishing in the top 15 on the Challenge Tour last year after failing at the tour school four times between 1998 and 2001.

Beaten in a play-off by Kenneth Ferrie in the Canaries, he has gone on to make the cut in five of his last seven events.

He confessed: "This game is 90 percent mental and I have gained a lot of confidence from my results this season.

"I am hitting it straighter off the tee and hitting more greens in regulation and generally feeling good about myself.

"There will be a lot of people out there cheering for me this week and hopefully I can give them value for money.

"The K Club is like my home course. I practice here all the time and I've just got to hit it straight and putt well."

The key for Lawrie will be hitting it straight off the tee and putting well.

He explained: "The rough is quite heavy and very wet and you are not really advancing out of it.

"In a few places you can get lucky but if you can drive it well out here you can do well. So I will try to hit lots of fairways."

Lawrie will have to do without the services of his regular caddie, James "Toe" Ingram.

Ironically, Ingram has picked up an infection in his foot and a new bagman has been drafted in.

As for the money, Lawrie hasn't bought himself anything yet.

He joked: "I'm too happy counting it and I haven't spent a penny

"There is no danger of getting too complacent I don't think. I'm certainly not stopping. I am putting more pressure on myself than anything. You just keep your card and try and fulfil your chances."

Lawrie is just a part of Ireland's 15-strong challenge for the title.

Apart from superstars Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington, there is a massive Irish contingent in the field.

The Irish Order of Merit has provided seven Irishman in Jimmy Heggarty, Brendan McGovern, Philip Walton, Damien Mooney, Leslie Walker, John Dwyer and Jimmy Bolger.

Meath dynamo Damien McGrane, Portrush starlet Graeme McDowell, Kilkenny's Gary Murphy and K Club professional John McHenry make up the rest of the home brigade.

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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