FORMER Open champ Paul Lawrie is hoping his new European Tour event can become a breeding ground for the next generation of Ryder Cup players.

The 45-year-old officially unveiled the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay, a €1million event which will be held in Aberdeen from July 30 to August 2 next year.

"The more you can prepare the younger players in matchplay events the better chance they will have of playing in a Ryder Cup hopefully," said Lawrie, who played in the Ryder Cups of 1999 and 2012.

Lawrie's own Foundation supports golf across the board, from the grassroots, through the Tartan Tour and the women's Tartan Tour and now the main European Tour.

He added: "I would look at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (on the PGA Tour) and think 'how cool it would be to have an event on the tour with your name on it'.

"It's not an ego thing, though. I actually didn't want my name on it. For the older players that have been on the tour, like myself, you just start thinking about putting as much back as possible into the game."

Meanwhile, Ian Poulter continued his brilliant form at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal before bad weather cut short the second round of the Turkish Airlines Open.

Tee times had been brought forward by 90 minutes in an attempt to get play completed, but the forecast thunderstorm arrived earlier than expected and forced play to be suspended.

Poulter had just completed the 14th hole at the time and tweeted: "Now that was a close call. On 14th green when lightning struck very close by."

Officials said play would resume after a delay of more than two-and-a-half hours, only for the weather to close in again.

Play was abandoned for the day and scheduled to restart at 8am today, with Poulter on 13-under-par and holding a three-shot lead over Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge.