Putting through the Valley of Sin for victory

It's true that most great shots travel great distances, often requiring the combination of risk and imagination that only truly great players possess. Equally so, some shots can travel as little as 40 feet - as was the case with Paul Lawrie's putt through the Valley of Sin - and be viewed not so much as a stroke of genius, but as something akin to a miracle.

The 2001 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - played over the three links courses of St Andrews (Old Course), Carnoustie and Kingsbarns in Scotland - was played in severe weather conditions and became a test of fortitude as much as skill. And, yet, the shot that was to give Lawrie the inaugural title was one of supreme skill.

With Ernie Els waiting and watching from the recorder's hut that is a mere 20 steps away from the famous 18th green, and in his mind preparing for at least a play-off, Lawrie's approach shot to the final green hit the putting surface but then tantalisingly spun back into the Valley of Sin, a pocket of Scottish soil that has been the graveyard for many a player, amateur and professional, down the years.

Lawrie had not won a tournament since surprising everyone - including himself - in taking the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie but he had played solid and inspired golf over the preceeding three wretched days to put himself into contention for a long overdue win. The previous day he had established a new course record 63 on the Old Course but, now, here he was faced with a daunting putt through the notorious valley.

From a near identical spot in the 1995 British Open, Costantino Rocca had holed a putt to force a play-off with John Daly - which the American won - but, rather than thinking of holing out, Lawrie was merely trying to ensure that he two-putted, knowing all too well how easy a three-putt from such a location could prove.

"I wasn't thinking of what Rocca had done until I walked off the course and someone mentioned it. When I am playing and in contention, I am focused on nothing but the job in front of me. In this case my priority was to get down in two to force a play-off and not three putt. But, having said that, I always felt I had a chance of holing it. Of course I knew that would be a bonus, but I had putted well that week and felt good about my stroke," recalled Lawrie.

In fact, that stroke was perfect. The ball trundled up and over the ridge and, with perfect line and perfect pace, it dropped into the cup and gave the Scot victory. "I reckoned it was a double-breaker with a bit of left to right movement at the start and from right to left near the hole.

" It worked out perfectly and as soon as I hit it, I knew it wasn't going to be far away. It has to be the most important putt of my life. When I won the Open at Carnoustie I had three putts from about three feet to win the title, but this was real pressure, knowing what was riding on one stroke."

At the end of the series, readers can vote for the Five Greatest Golf Shots Ever - the reader whose selections correspond with the shots selected by our Irish Times panel will enter a draw to win a custom fit Titleist 975J driver.