Martin Laird is determined to kick start what he refers to as the “meat of his season” in taking a sizeable bite at this week’s Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina.
Laird took last week off to return to competition at the event, and boasting a vintage Wels Fargo stagecoach in front of the clubhouse, being staged for a first occasion at the Eagle Point course laid out close to the Atlantic shoreline in Wilmington.
The $US 7.2m has switched for just one year given Quail Hollow in suburban Charlotte and the regular venue, is hosting August’s PGA Championship.
Martin Laird tees off in the Wells Fargo Pro Am.
Laird is contesting the event for a ninth straight year and looking forward to a change of fortune given he has made the cut five of eight times at Quail Hollow and with a best result of T26th in 2o12.
“This Eagle Point course is very different to Quail Hollow with the course here immaculate and it is probably the best condition course I have played all year, if not for a long time,” he said.
“The course definitely has the look and the feel of Augusta National given the pine trees, the same sand in the bunkers, the way the rough is set up and with the only difference it is not as open at Augusta in terms of huge fairways and closeness of the holes you have at Augusta.
Martin Laird with young Christain who helPed in caddying at the first hole in the Wells Fargo Pro Am.
“But while Quail Hollow is a really nice course but it does not really set-up well for me and Quail it is a pretty one-dimensional golf course with 8o to 9o% of the holes there you are facing dog-legs.
“And while I still like Quail Hollow it never has really set-up well off the tee for me but here I can fade the ball and that is what I like to do.
“So, while Quail is for guys with big draws, they will find that it is going to be a lot different this week so for guys like me, I am really looking forward to this week.”
Laird is contesting his 13th event in the Tour’s 2o16/17 wraparound schedule with his best finish being T7th at the Phoenix Open while he has enjoyed three other top-1os to be lying 47th on- the FedEx Cup standings and with earnings of $US 1,o7o,8o5.
This week also for Laird, and many of his Tour colleagues, the start of a big run of events and with the Scot contesting next week’s Players Championship.
Laird also has entered qualifying for the US Open and The Open Championship.
“This is an important stretch coming up for me as next week it is The Players and then it is a week off and contest the Colonial and the Memorial.-
“So, for me, this is the start of the meat of my season while there is the US Open I am hoping to get into and many other big events.
“All those tournaments I have mentioned are big but it does there is a Major or a marquee invitational such as the Memorial on the schedule nearly every week out here.
“So, there is no shortage of incentive and all the courses I am down to play are just so nice and that is what I am also looking forward to, as well.”
