EXCLUSIVE ..
Scot Martin Laird says he has no regrets missing out on teeing-up in this week’s whopping $20m (£stg 15.6m) Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.
Instead, Laird is contesting the PGA Tour’s $4m (£stg 3.1m) Puerto Rico Open and where he’s put himself well into contention in the hot and windy conditions on the Grand Reserve course laid-out along the Caribbean shoreline.
Laird, 41, posted rounds of 67 and 68 for a nine-under tally and just three shots from the lead as the afternoon half of the draw took to the course.
Laird said: “I didn’t hit it as nearly as well as I did yesterday but I scored well. I had another couple of nice par saves as well as a couple of sloppy holes but managed to get away with.
“So, happy with a 68. My short-game is really good right now and, so is my putting”.
The late, great Arnold Palmer hands Martin Laird the trophy following the Scot’s 2011 success.
This week’s Puerto Rico Open is up against Arnie’s event in suburban Orlando, and where three weeks shy of 13-years ago in 2011, the tournament host handed the Scot, and still only Tatan golfer in the now 58-year history of the event, the gleaming silver trophy.
And while former Tour champions are unusually exempt into events they’re won, not this year with the introduction of the limited field, eight ‘Signature’ events.
Laird said: “Of course, it would be nice to have been playing Arnie’s event. I have great memories from winning that tournament. It was my biggest win, winning the API and with Arnie presenting me the trophy.
“Yeah, I would love to be there but the way they’ve changed the entry fields I am happy to be here in Puerto Rico instead”.
Laird is competing in Puerto Rico for the third time in his career. He first teed-up 16-years ago in just a seventh event of his 2008 rookie PGA season while he returned in 2020, partnering eventual champ Viktor Hovland on the final day, ahead of sharing sixth.
He said: “I played here last when Viktor won. I played in the final group with him on Sunday. I played well that year, so I’ve had good memories coming back this week”.
MacIntyre, and the highest world-ranked in the field at World No. 68, was five-under through 10 holes and played the closing nine at just one under, with three birdies and one less bogey in his score of 67.
MacIntyre said: “I played well overall but a little disappointed with my back-nine as I was cruising along nicely, so to finish how did leaves me quite sore.
“Overall, it’s been two good days.
“So, I will stay aggressive and while it is a touch hot for me, it’s a beautiful setting and yeah, looking forward to a good weekend”.
The Oban lefty was well inside the top-20 at seven-under and assured of a third Tour pay cheque in succession.
And Russell Knox was right on the expected three-under cut mark, adding a one-under 71 to his opening 70.
It is double Tour winning Knox’s first PGA Tour event of the year.
