He’s given up four months to fellow Europeans but Martin Laird finally got his Ryder Cup qualifying goal underway by securing second place in the PGA Tour season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Hawaii.
Laird posted a final round 69 to end the event three strokes behind American Steve Stricker.
Martin Laird finally gets to see his name on the European Ryder Cup qualifying points table. (Photo - Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie)
Stricker, 43 led from the second day to collect his 12th PGA Tour title and his ninth since turning 40.
Laird picked-up his first Ryder Cup qualifying points after recently joining the European Tour as an ‘affiliate’ member.
It means the Colorado-based Scot will now earn Ryder Cup ‘World Ranking’ points in every tournament he competes.
Laird moved into 40th place on the Medinah ‘World Points’ standing with 22.80 points but a distant 50 odd points behind former U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell who is currently the fifth placed qualifier off the secondary of two Ryder Cup qualifying tables.
“I’ve been saying the last month or two that I want to get off to a quick start this year and get my name up there as a name that’s in contention for the team, and obviously coming out here to Hawaii and playing like this has done that for me,” he said.
“But I’m not just going to sit back and be like, I’ve had a good finish.
“I reckon I need to win at least once, maybe twice, to get on that team off the ‘world’ points.
“I’ve missed a few months of qualifying but coming here and finishing second has helped me a lot.”
The 2012 Ryder Cup qualifying process began last September in Switzerland that’s meant Laird has forfeited four months of qualifying until his superb result on Maui.
Laird has this week off before his next event, the January 19th commencing Humana Challenge at La Quinta in California where he is again eligible for Ryder Cup ‘World’ points.
However it will not be to next month at the European Tour co-sanctioned WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona the Scot will be eligible for a first time for points on the primary ‘European Points’ table.
Laird’s first full European Tour event is not expected to May when he will tee-up in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
