For the Tartan duo of Martin Laird and Russell Knox this week’s Valero Texas Open is their ‘Masters Last Chance Saloon’.
Laird and Knox need to win this weeek’s PGA Tour event in San Antonio if they are to earn the final invitation into next week’s 87th hosting of the Masters at Augusta National.
At present, just former Augusta champ Sandy Lyle is the only Scot teeing-up on the famed Georgia golfing gem, and with the 1988 Masters winner revealing his 42nd Masters and 101st major championship next week could be a last playing tournament in his illustrious career.
Laird had returned to the TPC San Antonio course a decade following his joy in April 2013, not only winning a third PGA Tour by brilliantly denying Rory McIlroy for a two-shot success.
Martin Laird trying hard to slip into his cowboy boots as part of his prize in capturing the 2013 Valero Texas Open.
Starting the closing round five shots behind overnight leader Billy Horschel, Laird birdied his closing three holes in a sizzling nine-under 63.
Victory, and a first Scot to win the Texas Open in 87-years, earned Laird a $US 1.11m first prize cheque, a gleaming new trophy, a spanking pair of Valero Texas Open logoed jet-black cowboy boots and, more important at the time, the last invitation into the Masters.
Laird said at the time: “Being last into the Masters might be kind of a good thing in terms of it’s going to be a bonus week, because I’m not going to go there with expectations because I didn’t think I was in the tournament to start the day.
“I absolutely love Augusta. It’s definitely a special place”.
Disappointingly, Laird missed the Masters halfway cut and it would be eight years, and in 2021 when he next and also last tee-up at Augusta, thanks to his October 2020 Hospital Shriners Open win in Las Vegas.
Knox is looking to end a six-year Masters absence, after just two drives down Magnolia Lane in 2016 and 2017.
Scotland’s Russell Knox
One of those who went close to earning a maiden Masters invitation was American Adam Schenk, who just needed a par at last fortnight’s Valspar Championship and he could be making his Augusta debut, so he looks to make amends this week.
He said: “This week, for those into the Masters, is essentially just a big Monday qualifier, so if you win, you get in, which would be awesome. I know Corey Conners did it a couple years ago and maybe someone else has done it as well.
“If that happens, great. If not, this week would still be another fun week just to put myself in contention, because I do really enjoy the course, it should be a good course for me. Just looking forward to doing that”.
Also looking to not only win but make their way to Augusta are two Carnoustie Open winners, and playing alongside each other, and that’s Padraig Harrington and Francesco Molinari.
Just one Masters winner in the field this week and that’s 2021 champ Hideki Matsuyama.
