Martin Laird ended his round in dramatic manner first hitting a marshal and then hitting the flagstick on the third day of the Valero Texas Open.
Laird hit a wild drive left at the last with his ball ricocheting off a grandstand and hitting a woman marshal, Lori McCutcheon on the right ankle.
However the Scot was oblivious to the incident before then hitting the bottom of the flag with his chip shot and holing a three foot putt for birdie in a round of 70 for a five under par tally.
Lori McCutcheon with Scotland’s Martin Laird.
It left the double PGA Tour winner inside the top-10 and on track for his easily his best finish in nine events this season.
Laird then left the green where he was met by McCutcheon who politely explained what happened and with Laird quickly autographing his glove for the her before she was heading off for an ice pack to place over the lump that now appeared on her ankle.
Lori McCutcheon proudly shows off the glove with ‘Sorry’ penned by Martin Laird. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I didn’t know I had hit her but she didn’t seem too bad although you never like to hit any of the spectators or marshals,” said Laird.
“I had a horrible lie there at the last and I was glad I hit the pin as I don’t know how far past the hole my ball would have gone.
“Overall I played very well with just that silly bogey from 90 yards out on 17 but it was tough out there in the wind.
“But I really haven’t made any putts this week and I’m still burning the edges.
“So hopefully if some of those go in early I will be right in the mix.”
Laird capped his round with a massive 340-yard drive to eight feet from the flag at the par four, fifth hole and holed the putt for eagle.
American Billy Horschel, who was joint runner-up in last week’s Shell Houston Open in on track to secure the last invitation into Thursday’s starting Masters.
Horschel carded a third round 70 to lead by two strokes on 10-under par and with World No. 2 Rory McIlroy shooting 71 to be tied in fourth place on six under par.
Despite a rousing 67 on day two the double Major winner continues to pay the price for stupid mistakes including dropping successive shots at 10 and 11.
However he and his fellow Masters competitors will be travelling in the lap of luxury later tonight with Texas Open sponsor’s, Valero putting on three Gulfstream private jets to ferry players, caddies and managers straight from San Antonio to Augusta.
Lori McCutcheon points to her ankle where she was struck with Martin Larid’s golf ball. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
