Wilmington, NC …

Scotland’s Martin Laird posted a one-under par 71 on day one of the Wells Fargo Championship and then revealed he still awaits confirmation of his “exemption” into Scotland’s premier event – the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.

“I am expecting to play but it just that I have not heard from the European Tour,” said Laird.

Laird capped his opening Eagle Point round with three birdies in succession from the fourth hole with the best he said a 6-iron into the par three, fifth hole and in between two par fives, and knocking in the nine-foot putt.

Scotland’s Martin Laird makes his way to the scorers hut after shooting a 71 on day one of the Wells Fargo Championship.

“One under is a nice little start but that was the worst score I could have shot today and then for the birdie to lip-out at the last was annoying at that my fifth lip-out of the round”, he said.

“It was just one of those rounds where I had two three-putts, five lip-outs and on 16 I did not get up-and-down, so it was one of those rounds that could have been five or six under without doing too much different.

“But then I did have a couple out up-and-downs, so overall I can’t be too displeased”.

And World No. 1 Dustin Johnson returned to competition for a first time since suffering a back injury on the eve of the Masters to shoot a two-under par 7o.