For Martin Laird and Russell Knox, this week’s Valero Texas Open is a Masters ‘Last Chance’ Saloon’ for the Scottish pair.
Laird and Knox, along with fellow Scot Robert MacIntrye, are contesting today’s (THURS) starting £stg 6.54m event where the winner is not only fitted with a stylish pair of cowboy boots but earns the last invitation, if not exempt, into next week’s Masters.
Laird did just that nine years ago, denying Rory McIlroy when the now Denver-based Scot birdied his closing three holes in a sizzling final day 63 in the city that’s home to The Alamo.
It was then Laird’s third straight Masters invitation and he arrived so late and at such short notice into Augusta that Sunday night, he stayed the night with fellow Scot and past Augusta winner, Sandy Lyle in Lyle’s rented house before moving into his own rented house the next day.
Laird returned last year to Augusta but with a little more preparation time in winning six months earlier at the Shriners Hospital Open in Las Vegas, and making the Masters halfway cut for the third time in four appearances.
He said: “Last year was a much nicer way to get to Augusta. In 2013, I enjoyed earning the last spot in the Masters but I don’t really remember it.
Martin Laird’s ‘victory’ picture appeared on the JW Marriott hotel room keys a year later in 2014 which is an annual traditon at the Valero Texas Open. (Photo – @TourMiss)
“I’d flown-in on the Sunday, obviously on a high from winning in Texas. Anytime you win, it takes a bit out of you, it’s tiring. I was dealing with all that on the Sunday and then the adrenaline kind of disappeared on the Monday.
“I just felt a bit rushed and a bit tired going into it. I missed the cut by one, Jason Day birdied the last to knock me out on the 10-shot rule. I was friends with him and I gave him some crap for that. It was fun but it’s a lot nicer knowing that I’m going for a while and be able to go and do some early preparation.
“Then it could be the same this week, hopefully if I win. It would be nice to go back to Augusta, having been there last year, and also I’m a little older, and I guess wiser, than when I won here in Texas nine years ago, so if I do win, and that’s the goal, I’ll try and not rushing over to Augusta knowing that I have played there a few times now, so I should know what to expect”.
Since earning the last Masters’s invitation in 2013, Laird returned to San Antonio every year up to 2019, with a best finish of T11th in 2018.
He said: “No, it’s back on my schedule this year as it’s a great golf course, and it’s a good warm-up if I hopefully get into the Masters.
“The game’s been a disappointing missing the last two cuts, so back and looking forward to drawing on some good memories.
Knox has not contested the Masters since his only two showings since 2016 and 2016, when he missed the Augusta cut on each appearance.
The Florida-based Scot was out on the TPC San Antonio course Tuesday playing a practice round with MacIntyre, who will be returning to Augusta on the back his super share of 12th a year ago, a result that earned him an automatic return to Augusta next week.
Though a year ago, MacIntyre went to as No. 44 in the world but returns with the best finish in the ensuing 12 months of a T8th at last year’s Open Championship and a best of T4th at last year’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
And MacIntyre has rented a house this week in San Antonio with his company being his caddy and long-time coach.
So, Bob will you be going to look over The Alamo while in town?
He said: “No, we’re staying in the house so there’s no chance of catching Covid (smiling)”.
MacIntyre was afforded an invitation to compete this week in San Antonio.
