Scottish joy over twin wins
Source: Agencies |
March 29, 2011, Tuesday
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MARTIN Laird's victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday capped a rare day of joy for Scottish golf, coming on the same day that Paul Lawrie triumphed in the Andalucian Open.
Former British Open champion Lawrie ended his nine-year winless run on the European Tour with a one-shot victory, hours before Laird, who had led from the second round, overcame a poor start to beat American Steve Marino by a stroke.
Laird won his first PGA Tour event in Las Vegas in October, 2009 - ending a drought for Scotsmen on US soil going back to Sandy Lyle's victory at the US Masters in 1988.
Colin Montgomerie, the leading Scottish golfer of the 1990's never managed to win an official PGA Tour event, although he finished in the top three on four occasions at majors on U.S. soil.
"It is no secret that Scottish golf has been down for a few years after Monty's dominance," said Laird after his triumph at Bay Hill.
"Now we have got a lot of good players. We just need to get up there and get experience but to have two wins in one week is obviously huge," said Laird.
Laird started the day with a two-stroke lead and before he took to the range he heard the news from Spain.
"I found that out in the morning and it was fantastic news. Sandy Lyle won recently on the European Senior Tour, so that makes it three in two weeks for us," said the 28-year-old.
Laird, who has been based in the United States for the past 10 years after he gained a scholarship at Colorado State University, said he had been able to avoid the common problem in Scotland of players struggling to make the leap from top-level amateur golf to the pro circuit.
"We always do very well in all of the big amateur tournaments but for some reason the transition to the professional game has not been working.
"I was lucky that when I graduated over here I had a group of sponsors that gave me some money to play and I didn't have to worry about paying my bills and entry fees.
"I could just go and work on my game and get better.
"People back in Scotland don't always have that luxury. I believe they now have a system set up with a couple of sponsors and I think there is some government funding to try to help to bridge the gap between amateur golf and guys turning pro.
"Hopefully in the next few years we will have players come through because there is no doubt that there is talent in the country."
Tiger Woods, a six-time winner of the event, finished tied for 24th, seven strokes off Laird, after finding the water on the 18th to double bogey and finish with an even-par 72.
Former British Open champion Lawrie ended his nine-year winless run on the European Tour with a one-shot victory, hours before Laird, who had led from the second round, overcame a poor start to beat American Steve Marino by a stroke.
Laird won his first PGA Tour event in Las Vegas in October, 2009 - ending a drought for Scotsmen on US soil going back to Sandy Lyle's victory at the US Masters in 1988.
Colin Montgomerie, the leading Scottish golfer of the 1990's never managed to win an official PGA Tour event, although he finished in the top three on four occasions at majors on U.S. soil.
"It is no secret that Scottish golf has been down for a few years after Monty's dominance," said Laird after his triumph at Bay Hill.
"Now we have got a lot of good players. We just need to get up there and get experience but to have two wins in one week is obviously huge," said Laird.
Laird started the day with a two-stroke lead and before he took to the range he heard the news from Spain.
"I found that out in the morning and it was fantastic news. Sandy Lyle won recently on the European Senior Tour, so that makes it three in two weeks for us," said the 28-year-old.
Laird, who has been based in the United States for the past 10 years after he gained a scholarship at Colorado State University, said he had been able to avoid the common problem in Scotland of players struggling to make the leap from top-level amateur golf to the pro circuit.
"We always do very well in all of the big amateur tournaments but for some reason the transition to the professional game has not been working.
"I was lucky that when I graduated over here I had a group of sponsors that gave me some money to play and I didn't have to worry about paying my bills and entry fees.
"I could just go and work on my game and get better.
"People back in Scotland don't always have that luxury. I believe they now have a system set up with a couple of sponsors and I think there is some government funding to try to help to bridge the gap between amateur golf and guys turning pro.
"Hopefully in the next few years we will have players come through because there is no doubt that there is talent in the country."
Tiger Woods, a six-time winner of the event, finished tied for 24th, seven strokes off Laird, after finding the water on the 18th to double bogey and finish with an even-par 72.
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