FORMER Open winner Paul Lawrie is "really excited" about bringing his Paul Lawrie Matchplay tournament to East Lothian this summer.

Lawrie's annual tournament will move from Aberdeen to Archerfield Links in August, and the 1999 Open champion is relishing hosting the tournament in the county.

The 47-year-old said at Archerfield last week: "I'm really looking forward to coming here.

"It's an absolutely beautiful venue for a great event – it should be really good."

There was a drop in attendance figures last year, with the event sandwiched in the middle of a busy summer golfing schedule in Scotland 12 months ago.

Lawrie hopes the crowds will flock to the East Lothian venue, and described the county as "a golf place."

He added: "It's not a criticism of the people of Aberdeen, and I think I made that quite clear last year.

"This is much more a golf place, though, and the crowds at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open just along the road last year were excellent.

"We hope they come back again for my event."

DJ Russell, who designed both courses at Archerfield Links and is on the senior tour, also welcomed the move to East Lothian.

He said: "It's just much more of a golf place."

Lawrie, who won a dramatic Open Championship in Carnoustie in 1999, was launching a ticket double header for the matchplay event and the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open, which is also at Archerfield later in August.

The deal will see fans who buy tickets for Lawrie's event also given free entry to the Scottish Senior Open.

"This is fantastic opportunity for golf supporters to see two generations of professionals on one of Scotland's finest links courses in the space of three weeks.

"We've teamed up wit the Senior Tour so that adults who attend the matchplay will enjoy free entry to the Scottish Senior Open later in the month."

To qualify for free admission to the latter event, adults must retain their ticket from the Paul Lawrie matchplay, or show proof of purchase on the gate at the Scottish Senior Open.

For more information visit www.europeantour.com/tickets or www.paullawriematchplay.com.