FORMER Open champ Paul Lawrie has been teed up for a charity game to help celebrate Gourock Golf Club's 125th anniversary.

The surprise appearance of the Ryder Cup star comes after organisers changed the date of the event to accommodate Covid restrictions surrounding two major golf tournaments.

The Pro-Am day gives local golfers the chance to play alongside professionals with the aim of raising £25,000 for four good causes including Ardgowan Hospice.

Gourock Golf Club's big day has been moved forward by a week from Monday July 5 to July 12 instead.

The change is as a result of professional player bubbles on the European Tour who are competing first in the Irish Open and then the Scottish Open.

Gourock's general manager Allan Warrick said: "As a club and organising team we are in the hands of the ever-changing situation with Covid-19, something that has affected all our lives for the last 15 months.

"Everything we had planned for the fifth will now happen on July 12.

"Players leaving the Irish Open on Sunday July 4 now need to stay within a bubble before they can compete in the Scottish Open commencing on Thursday July 8.

"This change in regulation affects nearly all of the pros who were planning to come to Gourock Golf Club.

"The players come out of that bubble after Sunday July 11 and can therefore be at Gourock the next day.

"Unfortunately due to other golfing commitments pro Euan Walker will now not be able to take part, but in his place we have the added bonus that former Open champion and Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie is now added to the players coming to the club on July 12."

Other star names on course for the gala are big names Nicolas Colsaerts and Lucas Bjerregaard.

Allan added: "A huge thanks to all who have supported this important event so far."

As a result of the changes the course will now be open on July 4 and 5 but will close at 11am the following Sunday and will be closed all day for the competition the following day.