LAIRD STANDS UP TO PRESSURE AS
PLACE ALONGSIDE
TIGER NEXT YEAR BECKONS
BIG-hitting Martin Laird from Glasgow, a former Scottish youths champion and US college circuit player, is set for promotion to play alongside Tiger Woods & Co on the US PGA Tour next season.
Laird, pictured right, began cementing his place in the all-important top 25 in the season-ending Nationwide Tour championship at Barona Creek Golf Club, California (on Thursday).
Laird shrugged off a potentially disastrous double-bogey at a short hole to return a six-under-par 65 to be lying joint fifth being leader Michael Letzig who shot a course record of 11-under-par 60.
The Scot, one of the longest drivers on America's No 2 pro circuit - he averaged 301yd off the tee in the first round, entered the tournament 18th on the Nationwide Tour money list with $207,729 earned from 26 events, one of which he won.
Laird, who had a reasonably good day with his putter - 29 putts, birdied the first, fifth and seventh on his way to an outward three-under-par 32. Then he stumbled badly with a double bogey 5 at the short 11th.
Martin's future could have been on the line there but he responded in great style with an eagle 3 at the long 13th and then birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th - great scoring under great pressure.
BIG-hitting Martin Laird from Glasgow, a former Scottish youths champion and US college circuit player, is set for promotion to play alongside Tiger Woods & Co on the US PGA Tour next season.
Laird, pictured right, began cementing his place in the all-important top 25 in the season-ending Nationwide Tour championship at Barona Creek Golf Club, California (on Thursday).
Laird shrugged off a potentially disastrous double-bogey at a short hole to return a six-under-par 65 to be lying joint fifth being leader Michael Letzig who shot a course record of 11-under-par 60.
The Scot, one of the longest drivers on America's No 2 pro circuit - he averaged 301yd off the tee in the first round, entered the tournament 18th on the Nationwide Tour money list with $207,729 earned from 26 events, one of which he won.
Laird, who had a reasonably good day with his putter - 29 putts, birdied the first, fifth and seventh on his way to an outward three-under-par 32. Then he stumbled badly with a double bogey 5 at the short 11th.
Martin's future could have been on the line there but he responded in great style with an eagle 3 at the long 13th and then birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th - great scoring under great pressure.
Letzig entered the tournament 26th on the money list, a spot away from earning a US PGA Tour card for next season. The 27-year-old former New Mexico University player had nine birdies and an eagle in the bogey-free round on the Barona Creek course.
"Everybody around me is putting pressure on me," Letzig said. "If it doesn't happen, who cares? I was planning on going to Q-school anyway."
Letzig's 60 was the third on the Nationwide Tour this year. He credited the low round to a new putter that arrived Tuesday."I've been putting terribly the last two months," Letzig said. "I didn't plan on changing, but last week I didn't make anything and missed the cut."
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71
60 M Letzig (US).
63 G Christian (Eng), T Van der Walt (SAf).
64 J Driscoll (US).
65 M Laird (Sco), J McGovern (US), B J Staten (US).
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, November 02, 2007
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