Houston, Texas … Martin Laird achieved a best lift off in an opening round at the Shell Houston Open but then said he would be doubtful if he would go to Augusta should he secure the last place into next week’s Masters.

Laird grabbed five birdies and dropped just one shot in a four under par 68 to be inside the top-10 and just three shots behind big-hitting American Dustin Johnson on the opening day of the Shell Houston Open.

Joining Johnson at seven under par is fellow American Roberto Castro.

However at the end of the day’s play it was Charley Hoffman with a blistering eight under par 64 who leads the event.

Martin Laird is no stranger to winning the week before Masters and seen here with the 2013 Valero Texas Open trophy.

Laird is now stranger to winning in Texas in the penultimate event ahead of the Masters after posting a final round 63 to deny Rory McIlroy to capture the 2013 Valero Texas Open.

“I am really happy as I was three under after six holes and then four under through 10 and with my only bogey 13 before a nice birdie to get back to four under at my 17th,” he said.

“So any time you make five birdies in a round you should be happy and lunch should taste that much nicer now.”

In fact, it’s Laird’s lowest start by a stroke in five appearances in Houston.

However the goal now, and if he’s to qualify for the Masters, is to continue the trend into the next three rounds of the £STG 1.2m event as the Scot has broken 70 once in just the eight rounds he’s gone onto play since the first day.

But then Laird’s wife is duo give birth to the couple’s second child in early in the second week after the Masters, and Laird mentioned that as their first child arrived 10 days early it could very well be a scenario next week.

“If I were to qualify for Augusta, and that thought is so far from my mind at present, and the baby came early I would barely get back in time to be there for the birth,” he said.

“So Augusta is not in mind at all and it happens, it happens. So we’ll cross that bridge if I happen to come to it.

“All I am thinking about if my first tee shot tomorrow and then playing my second and so on.

“It will be a nice bonus if it happens and I get to Augusta, and I would be more thrilled just to win here this week.”