Laird Looks For A Valero Texas Open Victory Repeat & That Last Masters Invitation

6 months ago by Comments Off on Laird Looks For A Valero Texas Open Victory Repeat & That Last Masters Invitation

Former champ Martin Laird will head into this week’s Valero Texas Open looking not only for his second success in the historic over 100-year history of the event but also secure the last invitation into the following week’s Masters.

Eleven years ago the Denver-based Scot denied hot favourite Rory McIlroy to capture the Texas title and also earn himself not only a smart-looking pair of cowboy boots but the very last invitation into what was then Laird’s third straight Masters showing.

And speaking of Masters invitations, we recall the frantic efforts of Laird in seeking to secure a late Sunday night bed in Augusta, so much so, he stayed the night in the house being rented by fellow Scot and former Augusta National champion Sandy Lyle.

Laird said at the time: “I remember we got into Augusta very late but fortunately the management company I was with was the same as Sandy’s (Lyle) so luckily he had a spare room, so I spent what was left of Sunday night in his rented house.

“Sandy was waiting with a bottle of wine, so it was nice to share that with him.  I recall him saying it was the 25th anniversary of his win and how he had won the week before Augusta in Greensboro”.

 

Laird’s victory on the TPC San Antonio course was a third of four PGA Tour wins but with the now 42-year-old having been unable to hold onto to full Tour membership at the end of the 2024 season.

So much so, Laird’s proud return as a former Valero Texas Open winner will be only a third main Tour start for him this year.

Laird’s prior PGA Tour starts this include missing the cut in January’s Farmers Insurance Open while he finished well down the board with a T68th result earlier this month at the Puerto Rico Open.

However, it was thanks to a sponsor’s exemption and not a ‘past winner’s’ category that Laird has been afforded entry into the $9.5m event.

And if Laird should capture the Texas event he’ll be returning to Augusta National for a fifth occasion in his career with his last appearance being in 2022 and that thanks to his 2021 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open triumph.



Comments are closed.