Martin Laird confirmed he will rejoin the European Tour later this year with a goal to qualifying for next year’s Ryder Cup team.
The U.S. based Scot had sought to join the European Tour ahead of the 2010 Ryder Cup but could not take up membership as he would not have played the minimum of 12 events.
Martin Laird confirming he will join European Tour in an effort to qualify for 2012 European Ryder Cup team. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
However there will be no such concern will Laird indicating he has already spoken to the Tour about taking up ‘Affiliate Membership’ from the start of the 2012 season.
It will mean missing out on attaining any points what with the 2012 Ryder Cup qualification process commencing Sunday, September 4th at the close of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.
“The Ryder Cup is definitely high up on my agenda and I will be joining the European Tour next year, and play a few more European Tour events,” he said.
“I want to make it clearly into the side, and not by just making the team from staying in America.
“I want to come back and play a few more events and hopefully be in a situation where I can play myself onto the European team.
“So I’ll be joining as an affiliate member, and hopefully 13 European Tour counting events.”
Laird is among 15 Scots competing in this week’s Barclay’s Scottish Open being played on the stunning Gil Hanse designed Castle Stuart course just to the east of Inverness in northern Scotland.
The current World No. 25 warmed up on the weekend by playing with his father at Lundin Links in Fife and just 20 minutes from the Craighead course at Crail, and Hanse’s first design project in Scotland.
And Laird has given the Castle Stuart course a resounding vote of approval.
“It’s fun to be back and it’s definitely playing like a true links course in terms of the ball is very fiery, and the ball is buzzing around,” he said.
“But I really like the course. It’s almost like two courses with the holes along the water and then the holes on the top overlooking the water.
“It’s a good test of golf and I’m looking forward very much to the week.”
Laird is in Britain for two weeks and will also compete in next week’s Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.
He’ll return to the States to prepare for his July 31st marriage to long-time girlfriend, Meagan in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Among the guests will be fellow Tour pros Kevin Stadler, Australia’s Jason Day and Nick Watney, winner of last week’s AT & T National Open.
