Paul Lawrie knows it is high time he was noticed again, 18 months on from the win which made him world famous.

Without a victory since the day that changed his life his Open championship triumph at Carnoustie the 31-year-old Scot accepts that this week's Accenture world match play in Melbourne represents another golden opportunity.

With no Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, David Duval, Phil Mickelson and, most significantly, no Tiger Woods, the event starts with the entire 64-strong field believing that the million-dollar first prize on Sunday could be theirs.

And that became even more the case in view of the fact that top seed Ernie Els flew in only late, not bothering with a practice round, and that second seed Hal Sutton managed only five holes because of a back problem.

Lawrie, who opens his bid against American Chris DiMarco, is the only one of last year's quarter-finalists taking part.

''I'll be disappointed if I don't have another good run,'' he said.

''But no matter who's not here, this is still one helluva field and the player who wins is going to have to play some unbelievable golf to do it.''

Although Aberdeen airport was closed by snow the day before he left last Friday, Lawrie cannot really be said to be coming from a British winter into the 37-degree heat of an Australian summer.

''I was only home for ten days. Before that I was in Japan, Argentina and Hong Kong. I played some good golf in all three places and I still feel my form's pretty good.''

It took Woods to beat Lawrie in California last February and, looking back, he knows it should have been him taking the world number one's scalp rather than Clarke in the final the following day.

''I was two-up with seven to play and he made only one birdie to beat me. It was a bad defeat and I know he wouldn't beat me next time if he played the same.

''I may not have won since the Open, but I know I can win tournaments and I feel my record since Carnoustie would have been a lot better but for some niggling injuries.''

He had to fly home from his last visit to Australia because of neck trouble, then suffered a groin strain which kept him out of the US Open, then had the build-up to his Open defence interrupted when a youngster practising his swing caught a watching Lawrie on his wrist.

He dropped from sixth to 26th on the European Order of Merit and finished 147th on the American money list - he has not renewed his tour membership there this year - but is 14th on the current Ryder Cup points list and could take a major step towards a second cap this week.

Padraig Harrington has the same goal, of course, and after all the withdrawals finds himself the leading European at the Metropolitan club.

Two weeks ago the Dubliner was at Largs in western Scotland practising in weather so bad ''you wouldn't send a dog out in it.''

Harrington flew there to work with coach Bob Torrance and was not going to let some ferocious wind and rain interrupt them. They moved under cover.

''This is a tough week,'' he said before his clash with American Steve Stricker.

''Every single person here does not want to have to leave after one round. It puts a lot of pressure on you to play well right from the gun.

''You've got to produce the goods straightaway and I'm glad I flew here last Wednesday. The last shots I hit before I left were in snow.''

Two of the six-strong British and Irish contingent were certain to be first day casualties, however, as Phillip Price was playing Andrew Coltart and Gary Orr was facing Paul McGinley