Glen Oaks, Long Island, NY …
Martin Laird is clearly enjoying the assurance of having his young family around in getting himself into contention at the Northern Trust.
Laird added a second straight one-under par 69 to move into a clubhouse share of 14th place at two-under in glorious conditions on the Glen Oaks course and some 26 miles from Manhatton and the heart of New York City.
The Scot trailed just four shots behind the leading foursome of World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (69) along with Rickie Fowler (66) and Jhonattan Vegas (65) and with Open Champion Jordan Spieth (65) later joning the group at six-under.
Laird had been forced to withdraw after the opening round of last week’s Wyndham Championship and with the Tour citing ‘personal reasons’.
In fact, Laird revealed he rushed home to Charlotte after his 15-month old daughter, Hannah became unwell.
Martin Laird and family – Wife Meagan, Son Jack and daughter Hannah. (Photo – www..martinlaird.com)
However, Laird’s family, and including three-year old Jack, each look find as evident by being on hand at Glen Oaks.
“The family is all good and it’s great to see them here and I actually only added contesting the Wyndham after missing the cut the week before in the PGA, “ he said.
“So, it was not an event I was expected to play even though I do love the tournament.”
Laird’s second round five birdies and one less bogey and capping his day with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes, and in taking just 28 putts.
“It was a good strong round and compared to yesterday where I recorded 15 pars, I hit my irons a lot better today,” he said.
“I started with a couple of good up-and-downs early on and that is important around a big golf course like this and that was after holing a seven-footer for bogey at the first.
“I also putted really well and while I missed a couple, I holed a good few as well and on very hard greens with the pins really tucked away.
“I just felt really comfortable in first seeing this golf course and a big key these two days also is that I am driving the ball and you have to do that on this golf course as the rough is just so penal”.
In fact, Laird has missed just three of 28 fairways over the first two rounds and averaging 291.8 yards off the tee in the $US 8.75m event.
Fellow Scot Russell Knox was out in the afternoon half of the draw and looking desperately to improve on his four-over par start.
