Martin Laird insists he’s looking forward to returning to a ‘favourite’ South Course at Torrey Pines and venue for next week’s 121st U.S. Open.
The Scot qualified for a seventh appearance in a U.S. Open by bizarrely returning to play just one hole of a rain-affected 36-hole qualifier in Ohio to assure himself a place in next week’s major championship.
The effort by Laird has now doubled the number of Scots teeing-up next week at Torrey Pines after Oban lefty Robert MacIntyre qualified for a sixth straight major off the World Rankings.
Laird had just birdied 16 and 17 of his second 18 holes, to sit at nine-under par and with just the one hole to complete, when the heaven’s opened in Monday’s intended 36-hole qualifier on two host courses in Columbus, Ohio.
It meant having to return early Tuesday local time and with Laird producing a par in a five-under par 67 to add to his earlier four-under 68 for a nine-under 36-hole tally.
Martin Laird heading to a seventh US Open after qualifying fifh in a 36-hole qualifier in Ohio. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Laird finished fifth overall among the leading 16 players and with South African Erik van Rooyen and American Chez Reavie leading the qualifiers at 12-under par.
European Ryder Cup captain, Padraig Harrington along with fellow majors champs Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley plus struggling Rickie Fowler each missed out by a shot in qualifying.
The Denver-based Laird had set-up his charge to the top with three closing birdies to his opening 18 and then after a short break went out and made it five in succession after back-to-back birdies at his 19th and 20th holes.
Laird said: “I played really well yesterday and it’s a pity we didn’t manage to finish on Monday since we only had one hole to play but it’s a case of job done and I’m looking forward to returning to the U.S. Open.
“It would have been nice to qualify automatically for the U.S. Open but I’m not too bothered as I’m playing a third major this year and that’s a big boost of confidence for my game right now.”
Next week will mark Laird’s seventh U.S. Open and a first since 2017 and a big plus for the Scot he’s headed to Torrey Pines and one of his favourite PGA Tour stops since joining the Tour full-time in 2008.
In fact, Laird has contested all but one Farmers Insurance Open from 2008 to 2021 and with best results of back-to-back top-10s in 2015 and 2016 on the hilltop North and South courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
And helping Laird is his fondness for next week’s South Course at Torrey Pines that will host the U.S. Open as opposed to both courses being used for the Farmers Insurance.
He said: “The South Course is one of my favourite courses to play all year”.
This writer recalls being present when Laird birdied the closing three holes on the South Course in a round of 68 during the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open.
Laird wasted little time post qualifying to be headed straight to South Carolina where he is teeing-up in the inaugural Palmetto Championship that is replacing the Covid-19 cancelled Canadian Open.
Missing out on joining Laird and MacIntyre at Torrey Pines was fellow Scot James Ross, and with the Royal Burgess golfer posting scores of 74 and 72 to miss out by four shots at the famed Bears Club in Florida.
