Martin Laird attributed a weekend ‘chilling out’ that also included soaking up the thrills and spills of last Sunday’s round of the 2016 Indy Car race series as key to posting a three under par 69 on the opening day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.
Laird has missed the halfway cut in his past two starts, along with last week’s Valspar Championship near Tampa Bay.
However the former Arnold Palmer champion was burning rubber on day one at Bay Hill with six birdies and half as many bogeys in very hot and humid conditions.
Highlight of Laird’s round was sinking a 55-foot putt at the 10th hole of his round.
Pablo Montoya wins last Sunday’s Indy Car race at St. Petersburgh with Martin Laird a ‘chilled out’ spectator.
It is Laird’s second best start in a seventh straight appearance in the event he captured in 2011, and in in his second of three wins on the PGA Tour.
If left the Scot just three shots five players, among them the Aussie duo of in-form Adam Scott and Marc Leishman, winner of last December’s Nedbank Challenge and the second event on the 2015/16 European Tour schedule.
“It was a very solid day’s work and I made some nice putts including a bunch of birdies near the end of my front nine before a monster at the first that was my 10th hole.,”said Laird.
“It’s a tough golf course and any time you can get on a run like I did there, with five birdies in a seven-hole stretch, I’ll take that any time.
“And while it’s five years now since I won here at Bay Hill I still draw on those memories, and any time where you have won that is going to help knowing you know how to play the golf course.
“Of course, there’s posters up with my picture and my name on the honour roll of past winners, but it’s more my own memories because I know I can play well because I have won here in the past.
“So that always gives you that little extra bit of confidence drawing on memories of doing so well, and even though it is five years this year.”
However, after missing the halfway cut at ‘The Snake Pit Laird spent Saturday relaxing with his caddy in St. Peterburg and with the duo heading off on Sunday to the ‘Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg won by reigning Indianapolis 500 champ, and past Formula One driver Pablo Montoya.
“I didn’t touch a club at all since missing the cut last Friday and arriving here earlier this week,” said Laird.
“My caddy lives at St. Petersburg which wasn’t that far from where the Valspar was being held, so I stayed with him on Saturday just chilling out and then we went to the Indy Car Prix on Sunday.
“So that was pretty exciting and overall all it was just a relaxing weekend with my caddy and having a few beers, and taking in the Indy Car GP that was pretty exciting.
“But then those who know about golf, know that some weeks you can play bad and still make the cut and there’s other weeks where you feel as though you have played half-decent but you end up having the weekend off.
“So as much as it was frustrating last week at the Valspar having the weekend off, not touching a club, but then seeing the Indy Car Grand Prix seems to have worked today.”
