MARTIN LAIRD SAYS SWING-CHANGE PAIN WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END

FROM TODAY'S "SUNDAY POST"
By DOUG PROCTOR
Martin Laird has missed his last three cuts on the US Tour and sits well down at 167th on the money list.
Yet the Scot remains ice cool as he goes about his business, bespite his 2013 earnings of $27,000 being over a million dollars short of his position this time last year!
His current World Ranking meane he missed the WGC event in Miami this weekend and only a win on one of his next three tournaments will get him back to the Masters.
So was the Scot wise to change his swing coach last September while on his way to earnings of over $2 million?
Laird has no doubts, and it comes as no surprise why he is taking a time-proved precarious road to changing his game.
"I think it will help me get to a better level than I was at," he reasons.
"Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards. I know it is going to take time but the way I'm hitting the ball in practice has got me really excited about my game.
"On the course it is taking some getting used to, but it's not like it's anything big. It's what you hear guys saying all the time - you have to play through it.
"I've dropped in the World Rankings, so this year is going to be a different year as I'm not in all the Majors or WGC events right now.
"So my situation has changed as far as my schedule goes. But, taking the glass-half full angle, it gives me the motivation to get back into the top 50 in the world.
"That's where you want to be and where I have been fortunate to be for the past few years."
And Laird has done it with the belly putter which has become the villain of of the game in may traditionalists' eyes.
The Scot sees troubles ahead if the ban on anchoring the putter is approved by the RandA and USGA.
He contends: "I don't really anchor the putter, so it does not really affect me, to be honest. I just rest it against my shirt. It never actually touches my belly so I just have to cut an extra inch off it to be alright."
But Laird agrees the ban could cause more problems than it solves.
Stand by for television viewers phoning in non-stop, accusing players whose putter is so close to the body it would be impossible even for TV to say it is anchored.
Laird agrees: "That's the sad thing about it becaus there are so many positive things go on the for the game right now. Instead, they are arguing about something that has been a staple diet in the game for years."