Leading Scot Laird targets world top 64

with home visit on the cards

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Martin Laird, the first Scottish golfer to break into the top 100 in the world in more than a year, has set himself a three-week target to force his way into the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
The Arizona-based player, who tied for fourth behind Geoff Ogilvy in the season-opening SBS Championship on the PGA Tour earlier this month in Hawaii, returns to action today when he lines up in the 90-hole Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta in California
Laird goes into the event lying 83rd in the world rankings and needs to climb into the top 64 to earn a place in the WGC Matchplay event at Dove Mountain in Arizona in a month's time.
"Hawaii was a great week and I am really pleased with my start to the season," said Laird, who plays in next week's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego and then the Northern Trust Open at Riviera in Los Angeles the following week.
"Now I am looking forward to the next three weeks to see if I can make that push into the top 64."
In addition to the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, the 27-year-old is keen to play in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns and is not ruling out an appearance in the Gleneagles Scottish Championship over the Kings Course the following week, though his defence of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open title will be the determining factor in that decision.
"My participation in the Scottish PGA Championship is something that I can't comment on right now as I am not sure of my schedule that late in the year," he added.
"I am planning on hopefully coming back and playing in the Dunhill Links, so it is maybe something that could work. However, I have to defend my title in Las Vegas the following week, so I am not sure how it would all work out."