Lawrie to team up with Dubliner

British Open champion Paul Lawrie, who last week controversially sacked the caddie who helped him to Carnoustie success, has turned to another Irishman to take over his bag-carrying duties.

The Scot ended his previous relationship with Paddy Byrne just ten minutes before the tee-time of his world matchplay championship second round match with Billy Mayfair in California, but has now asked Dubliner Colin Byrne to assume caddying duties. A three-tournament trial period will start at the Players' Championship, commonly known as the "fifth major", at Sawgrass later this month.

Colin Byrne, who has been caddie to New Zealander Greg Turner for a number of years, was approached by the player's coach Adam Hunter to consider the position. He has agreed to the trial period which will take in the Players' Championship on March 23rd-26th, the US Masters on April 3rd-9th and the following week's Seve Ballesteros Trophy at Sunningdale.

"I know Colin, he's a really nice guy and we'll see how it goes. I was talking to Darren Clarke and he thought that Colin would suit me perfectly. But we'll see how it goes after the trial period. If he doesn't like me, so be it. The same if it doesn't work out from my point of view," said Lawrie.

Turner is currently at home in New Zealand and doesn't intend to surface on the European Tour until early May, so there was no conflict of interest in Byrne's decision to take the bag.

Lawrie apologised to Dubai resident Paddy Byrne last week for the manner in which the sacking was handled. But Lawrie insisted he didn't regret the parting of the ways. "It was a player-caddie thing," said the player. Paddy Byrne revealed one of the reasons for his sacking was for not having enough bananas in his bag.