Martin Laird is ready to draw on similar Scottish-like conditions for a second straight day in a goal of securing a second success in the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
Laird finished birdie, birdie in a one-under par 71 to be tied in fourth place at six-under par but only two strokes behind American Kevin Chappell, who also shot a 71.
Martin Laird now just one round away from a second victory in the Valero Texas Open. (Image .. www.golfbytourmiss.com)
South African Branden Grace, and with a round 70 following his defence of last weeks RBC Heritage, is in second place on six-under par.
Laird is looking to end a four-year PGA Tour winless drought since capturing the 2013 Valero Texas Open, and the very week before the Masters.
His San Antonio third round had been a mix of three birdies and one bogey when he stood on the 12th tee from where he found a green-side bunker with his second but then took four shots from 100-feet for a double bogey.
Laird then dropped a further shot with an errant drive left that landed in native vegetation from where he was forced to chip out.
However, the saved the best for last in hitting a booming 306-yard drive just short of the green at the 17th and then chipped to two feet for birdie while at the last Laird opted for the right-side of the fairway, and split by a stream, and hit a superb 144-yard third shot to just some two feet for birdie.
“It was nice as 17 was downwind wind so I hit 3-wood down there just in front of green and two-putted from five yards short, and 18 was really nice par, par 5 kind of playing like almost a par 6 today. I hit driver, 3-iron as good as I could and hit 7-iron for my 3rd shot and nice little punch in there, couple feet under the hole,” he said.
“So, finishing birdie, birdie clearly helps. It’s tough on the back-9. I just hit two poor tee shots on 12 and 14, hit them in the trees and I had a couple of 6s.
“Playing those last holes a couple under keeps me in there for tomorrow”.
And having held off Rory McIlroy four years ago to win a then third Tour title, Laird will look to again capitalise and in expected continuing cold and overcast conditions.
“I like playing here. I really do enjoy this golf course even in conditions like today. I said to my caddie, kind of fun playing out there today in the wind like that. I’m just going to go out tomorrow and continue to enjoy playing the course and have fun and see what happens,” he said.
But with the cold, overcast and windy conditions set to continue on day four, Laird could not be more excited at the prospects that lay ahead in the $US 6.3m event.
“I think the wind is supposed to come from the same direction. We got a little more used to what it’s going to be like tomorrow. It was tough out there. I played really nicely and two bad tee shots on the back-9 cost me a couple 6s. For 16 holes I didn’t do much wrong.
“So I am looking forward to tomorrow”.
