Lawrie: axing of Byrne mishandled

British Open winner Paul Lawrie yesterday admitted he had mishandled the "sacking" of his Irish caddie Paddy Byrne, which occurred just 10 minutes before his world matchplay championship second round match with Billy Mayfair at La Costa last week.

Although not regretting the parting of the ways, which he said was a "player-caddie thing", Lawrie regretted the timing and its handling. Byrne was told on his way to the course that morning by Lawrie's coach Adam Hunter that they were 'phoning other potential caddies.

The decision not to use Byrne for the match against Mayfair was only taken minutes before tee-time "because I didn't think he was in the right frame of mind," confirmed Lawrie.

"Paddy didn't take it very well. Adam wanted to do the right thing by Paddy and not leave him hanging about and thinking that everything was rosy when it wasn't," said Lawrie. "So, the only mistake we made was being honest with him really."

He added: "He's had a lot of trouble from his family who think he's mixed up in something or doing something really bad to get the sack 10 minutes before tee-time. But I had arranged for Paddy and I to finish in my own mind . . . he didn't do anything that was unbelievably bad, didn't do anything seriously wrong. It was just the player-caddie thing, and I felt it was time for a change."

Byrne, the son of Donegal businessman Seamus Byrne, a property developer in Dubai, actually took over Lawrie's bag a year ago. The following week, he caddied for the Scot when he won the Qatar Open, was with him for the British Open success at Carnoustie and was on his bag for the Ryder Cup. "I think he's had a great ride at it, sadly it is finished," said Lawrie, who spoke with his former caddie for some time on Wednesday in an attempt to clear up the break-up.

Ironically, Byrne was at the Dubai creek course, but outside the ropes, for yesterday's first round - and followed Paul McGinley for much of his round.

However, the caddie doesn't intend to seek another bag for another few weeks.