Riatt one shot behind Lawrie

British professional Andrew Raitt was for once able to ponder matters other than his financial problems on Thursday after a five-under 67 put him one stroke off the Algarve Portuguese Open lead held by Ireland's Peter Lawrie.

Raitt, 34, told reporters he had been hit by nearly £400,000 court costs and hospital bills following a protracted case which came about after the tip of his left little finger was bitten off by a dog nine years ago.

He sued the owner, telling a court in December 2002 that the incident prevented him developing his fledgling career and could even have denied him a place in the Ryder Cup.

But the judge, after hearing evidence from an expert witness, ruled that his injury had not substantially impaired his ability.

The judge awarded him 4,900 pounds instead of the one million he had been expecting for loss of potential prize money earning, an estimated percentage of the six million his lawyer was claiming.

Raitt says his financial burden has left have him unable to continue beyond the end of this season on the European Tour but the 67 at Penina at least opened the chance of reducing some of his debts.

"It's very hard knowing that even if I win (the 140,000 pounds) first prize this week it will only touch the surface of my debts," said Raitt, who says his finger problem has subsequently led to further injury to his arm and shoulder.

The problems of Raitt, who has also had to undergo costly restructuring of his finger twice in Brazil, have been compounded by the loss of his tour card last year, and a divorce. He says he will lose his half of the marital home and his car to pay off some of his debts.

As a reserve called up to play at the last minute, Raitt only arrived on the Algarve 12 hours before playing his opening round and had no chance for practice.

"But you have to keep going. When you have a baby daughter you have to," he said.

"I can't see any end to this, though, and I think I'll be packing it in at the end of the year. I just want to earn some money from the few starts I get this year on the main tour -- I won't play the Challenge Tour -- and then call it a day."

Last year's European rookie of the year Lawrie, Nick Faldo's first signing for the six-time major champion's new 'Faldo Enterprises' management team, fired a 66 to lead the field.

Six others joined Raitt on 67. They were last week's Madeira Island Open winner Christopher Hanell of Sweden, Frenchman Gregory Havret, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, Spaniard Gabriel Canizares, son of former Ryder Cup player Jose Maria, Swede Jarmo Sandelin and Briton Stephen Dodd.

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