GOLFER PETER LAWRIE claims a fizzy drink addiction triggered a loss of confidence that saw him tumble down the world rankings.
The Irishman was ranked 106th at the end of 2010, but now finds himself 725th as he attempts to get his career back on track following a radical lifestyle change.
Having gone from drinking several litres of soft drink a day to a couple of cans, Lawrie has spoken candidly about the impact the addiction has had over the past few years.
“I was addicted to Coke and I’ve recovered from that,” the 40-year-old told Newstalk’s Off The Ball.
“I was addicted to it, I tried to stop it and I cut it out completely. I went from such a high on sugar and stuff like that to a dramatic low.
“That happened three weeks after the Irish Open in 2013 and I never recovered from it, I really didn’t.
“I know this might shock people, but I lost all confidence in myself.
“I wouldn’t say I went through a breakdown, but I got exceptionally emotional at the end of that year and some of last year as well.
“It was very difficult to deal with all the situations that were coming at me. So whether that had anything to do with my mental state in any shape or form, I had no idea.
“I drink two cans a day, or three cans a day [at the moment], but I was drinking litres of the stuff, litres of the stuff. Even in the hottest country, in Malaysia, I’d have a Coke on the golf course because I was addicted to it.”
After 12 consecutive years on The European Tour, Lawrie lost his tour card last year after missing 24 out of 31 cuts.
The 2008 Spanish Open winner has played in four events this year after receiving invites from the organisers.
Amazing how many of these tales looking back with regret young lads not realising the opportunity they had. No doubt awareness, attitude, application, education, etc are all needed to go with skill and ability, the more rounded the kid the better chance he has.
@Nick: all these interviews are with guys that didnt make the most of the career they had for a variety of reasons and they do deserve to be heard. However the real tragedy is the 100′s that give everything to football from 12 – 22yrs of age & dont even get a short career, left with no education, no skills & a bleak future.
@James Kearney: exactly, big clubs suck 100s of children and parents in give them glimpses of the big time in the off and remote chance they may make it. Come 19 or 20 a harsh decision is made and vast majority get a good luck and thanks for your time. Has to be more responsibility from clubs point of view, their education must still be the priority not the lining of millionaires pockets.
@James Kearney: absolutely. I played at a decent level but I was lucky enough to know I was never good enough to make it and knew I’d have to make a living elsewhere.. So many lads I played with chased the dream and had nothing to fall back on when they fell short.
@James Kearney: English football clubs have chewed up and spat out many young Irish men. My club alone, in backwater in mayo, has had a few lads go across in their early teens and have ultimately come back after being homesick and falling out of love with football. Two of them have been captains of their youth teams. Back home with no education and the stigma of ‘there’s the lad that didn’t make it’. The FAI don’t care about our young talent. You either make it if you’re good enough or its good luck, there’s the door. If they did, they’d invest in LOI and we’d retain our youth until they were mentally mature enough to make the venture across.
Great article. Fascinating story.
How much was he earning st Sunderland, Dunfermline and at Hartlepool Utd? Did he earn enough to invest in properties, pension?
@Ken Curran: not a lot probably
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