Scotland’s Martin Laird could not have picked a better fortnight stretch to return to competition after the birth of his son, Jack.
Laird has been absent from the PGA Tour since his wife, Meagan gave birth some weeks ago and with the Scot returning to tee up in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and an event he won in 2011 before heading to San Antonio next week as defending Valero Texas Open winner.
However Laird’s clearly not expecting to duplicate such winning form given he’s not competed since finishing well down in last month’s Farmers Insurance Open.
“The Laird household hasn’t really changed too much but then all for the better with our new son, Jack,” said Laird.
Martin Laird ends a month’s absence from the PGA Tour returning to Bay Hill and where he won three years. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“I’ve really just been sitting around the house for the past month and it was really tough to leave on Monday to come down here to Orlando.
“But then I’ve probably watched more golf on TV than I ever have in probably the past five years, so I was really getting keen to come back out here.
“I only began hitting practice balls last week but nothing too much, so I need these couple of days out on the golf course before teeing-up on Thursday and hopefully get some course sharpness back in my game.”
And when quizzed what is his best time in changing young Jack’s nappy or diaper, Laird joked: “Jack likes to pee everywhere when we change him, so sometimes it’s taking me longer than I would like but then I’m getting better.”
Laird is making his fifth straight start in the Palmer’s $US 6.2m event having denied Tiger Woods from winning five years in succession in 2011 after Woods had reigned supreme in 2008, 2009 and then again in 2012 and last year.
Three years ago Laird had led on day two and three and then came to the 18th on Sunday facing an ominous 87-foot put on the final green that he eased to just three feet in an eventual round of 75 to win by a stroke.
Laird collected a first prize cheque of $US 1.08m to become also the first-ever European to win Palmer’s event.
“These are two very special weeks for me having won here three years ago and then to be heading to San Antonio as defending champion,” said the Scot.
“So both Bay Hill and San Antonio will offer good memories for me and they are probably as good as two events I could single out.
“But then this week is always a special week with Arnie present and to walk off the 18th green three years and be congratulated by him is something I will never forget.
“So even though I haven’t played for a month, I feel that any time I come here to Bay Hill I can play well including last year when I finished 34th but still felt I played well.
“It’s just a golf course that sets up perfect for me and if I can shake some of this rust off every and get going, then I feel I can definitely get myself into the mix.
“Then I’m heading back to San Antonio next week where the golf course also sets up well for me, so there is a lot of confidence to be gained these two weeks.”
But as this stage Laird is not into next month’s Masters and he given he is playing just two of the three events before Augusta, the Scot will need to either win one of these next two events to join Sandy Lyle and Stephen Gallacher as the only Scots so far who have qualified for the year’s first Major.
Laird will play the opening two rounds this week in the company of American Brian Gay and double US Open winner Retief Goosen teeing up today (THURS) at 1.32pm local time (5.32pm UK time).
Fellow Scot Russell Knox will be making his debut in the event and competing alongside the US pair of Chad Campbell and Brendon Todd at 7.47am today (11.47am UK time).
