Martin Laird arrived in San Antonio last night (SUN) for his defence of the Valero Texas Open but with his first appointment being a long session on the range with his coach.
Laird had jetted in from Orlando where he had plunged to last place with weekend rounds of 76 and 78 for a horror nine over par Arnold Palmer Invitational total, and in an event he won three years ago.
The Scot started Sunday dropping five shots in his first three holes, including doubles at one and three, before a run of three straight birdies but then doubled nine in an outward half of 40 ahead of one birdie but three dropped shots over his inward nine.
He said: “I just played terrible on the weekend so I am flying straight to San Antonio and will be out on the range with my coach, Randy Smith the first thing in the morning.
Martin Laird heads back to San Antonio with first task a lengthy session on the Valero Texas Open practice range.
“I haven’t seen him for a while so I am going to wear him out over the next month or so.
“I came here not having played for a month but I didn’t come here expecting to shoot nine over, and that wasn’t expected.
“But then next week’s a new week and it’s going to be fun going back there as defending champion, and maybe that’s what I need is a confidence lift like that going back to a golf course where I won in such great manner with that final round 63.”
A year ago Laird’s Texas Open win earned him the very last invitation into the 2013 Masters when he birdied his closing three holes in a course-record equalling display to deny then World No. 1 Rory McIlroy by two shots.
However while McIlroy is not competing reigning Open Champion Phil Mickelson will end a 22-year absence in teeing-up in the $US 6.2m event.
Laird said: “I still remember vividly how well I played there last year and how good I played the final round, and it’s the best ball-striking round I’ve ever played by a fair margin given the tough conditions on that last day.
“To hold off and beat Rory who was No. 1 in the world also was very pleasing and that made it more special and that added to the win.
“He came up to me later which was great complimenting me on how well I played because he was trying hard to catch me.
“Also it was good also to qualify for the Masters but I’m going there not thinking about the Masters because you go to every tournament trying to win, and it’s just that last year it was the week before the Masters whereas this week it’s two weeks.
“So if I win again I will be going to Augusta but I’m heading back to San Antonio not thinking about the Masters.
Joining Laird this week will be fellow Scot Russell Knox who is contesting the event for a third straight year.
Knox also ended his first Bay Hill appearance with a final round with a double bogey in a score of 74 for a two over par tally.
