• The Masters

Illness leaves Lawrie fretting on Masters place

Paul Lawrie has already won in 2012 © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Out of Bounds: Woods facing a problem with no solution
  
• Profile: Paul Lawrie

Paul Lawrie will face an agonising wait to see whether he will qualify for this year's Masters, after he was forced to withdraw from this week's Andalucian Open due to illness.

Lawrie, currently ranked world No. 45, needs to remain within the top 50 at the end of the week to be sure of his invitation to the first major of 2012, which takes place at Augusta National at the start of April.

Lawrie opted not to withdraw during last week's WGC-Cadillac Championship as he began feeling unwell, choosing instead to persevere through a final round 77 to ensure he picked up points that could help him in his bid for a Ryder Cup place at the end of the year.

The decision might come back to haunt the Scot, however, if he slips down the rankings this week.

"I haven't been feeling too well this week, but I was up coughing most of [Saturday] night," Lawrie revealed. "I was going to pull out [of the Cadillac Champonship] until I found out you have to complete four rounds for the money to count on the Order of Merit and Ryder Cup points, so I decided to cough and splutter my way round, eventually shooting 77."

He added: "I got some antibiotics from the doctor but have decided to withdraw this week as there's no way I could play. I sent [tournament host] Miguel Angel Jimenez a text to say sorry but I'm not well enough to play, I hope he understands.

"I have spent all day on the couch, one minute sweating and the next minute freezing."

Lawrie already has one win under his belt this season, claiming the Qatar Masters. Jimenez is the man currently ranked 51st in the world, although the Spaniard already has an invitation to The Masters after he finished 2011 inside the top 50.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.