Bethpage Park, NY … Martin Laird produced his equal lowest opening round all year to muscle his way to five under par and take a share of the lead on the opening day of the Barclays Championship.
Laird didn’t drop a shot in his score of 66 in hot and humid conditions around the Black Course at Bethpage Park on New York’s Long Island.
The Scott birdied took full advantage of the ‘easier’ front nine on the course set to host the 2019 U.S/ Open and 2024 Ryder Cup before playing in the inward half with one birdie and eight solid pars.
And after competing in the 2009 U.S. Open and the 2012 Barclays each at Bethpage Park, Laird’s opening score in the opening event of the 2016 FedEx Cup Series is two shots fewer than a 68 on day three of the 2012 Barclays.
Martin Laird produces his lowest first round all year to share the lead on day one at the Barclays Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
He said: “The ’09 US Open was really wet and the course played longer, and it was easier to hit the fairways back then as the ball would just splat.
“Whereas today, two to three times, I missed the fairway and I had maybe 180-yards to the front and could still get it up there around the green.
“Whereas at the U.S. Open that wasn’t the case.
“But then the course is in great shape but with the wind picking up it will continue to dry out and get a little firmer.”
While fellow Scot Russell Knox, who was out in the afternoon half of the draw in the $US 8.5m event, is focussed on getting a European Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ pick next Tuesday, Laird would like to set his sights of qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.
He teed-up just east of ‘The Big Apple’ lying 89th on the Play-Offs points list but only once in his PGA Tour career, and that was in 2010, has Laird made it through to final event of the PGA Tour season and finishing 11th on the money list.
He said: “When I stepped onto the first tee this morning all I was thinking about was my first tee shot so I can’t really get ahead of myself.
“That’s one of the big things that I have got better at as my career has progressed and that’s not getting ahead of myself.
“I know that all sounds cliché and boring but then I know if I do play this week I can then go onto the Deutsche Bank next week and then maybe get myself into the BMW Championship.
“So if all goes well these three weeks and I can get myself into the Tour Championship then well and good but right now I will try and do the same tomorrow, and that is to again step on that first tee thinking about finding the first fairway.
“But then it is a good time to be playing well and I am just pleased to be showing some nice form at this important end to the year.”
American Patrick Reed shared the lead with Laird and with Rickie Fowler, who posted a four under par 67, desperate to do enough this week to earn one of Davis Love 111 Hazeltine ‘wildcard’ picks.
Qualifying for the USA Team ends this Sunday with the top-eight heading to Hazeltine while Love 111 will announce three of his four picks on Sunday 11th September, and straight after the BMW Championship.
Fowler is currently ranked 12th on the USA points table and is desperate to be part of a victorious Stars and Stripes side.
He said: “The Ryder Cup has been my No. 1 goal all season and while I haven’t been on a winning team yet, it’s a special event and something I don’t want to miss out on.”
