Martin Laird takes aggressive approach as he masters the Old Course with impressive round of 67

Published on Sunday 10 October 2010 16:11

MARTIN Laird stopped paying too much respect to the Old Course yesterday and was rewarded with a five-under-par 67 - seven shots better than his previous best effort on its hallowed fairways.

The 27-year-old signed for rounds of 74 and 83 as he missed the cut in this year's Open Championship and was less than impressed with his 75 there in the second round of the Dunhill Links Championship on Friday.

"I wasn't very happy when I finished here on Friday. I think I was paying the Old Course too much respect. I was laying up too far back off the tees and stuff like that," said Laird, who finished in a tie for fifth on 11-under-par 277.

"I said to my caddie: 'I'm just going to hit driver every hole on Sunday and I think that's the way I'm going to play this course from now on.'

"Even if I hit one or two bunkers, I'll make more birdies and pars from playing aggressive. That's kind of my style. I really struggle when you've got to back off a little. That's when I don't play very well. Going out (the was I did] today it worked out well."

Seven shots off the lead heading into the final round, Laird surged up the leaderboard with a burst of five birdies in seven holes from the fifth before a six birdie of the day - at the long 14th - moved him to 12-under for the tournament. He dropped his only shot of the round after missing the fairway on the left at the 17th, meaning he eventually fell six shots behind winner Martin Kaymer, but it was still a satisfactory first appearance in the event for the Arizona-based player.

"I played well and putted well, which is what you need to do when it is playing hard like it is," added Laird, who returns to PGA Tour duty next week, when he defends the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open title in Las Vegas. "I've not hit one practice putt or practice ball all week, and sometimes when you relax and don't expect much you have a good week. That's kind of what it has been this week, just having fun at home, seeing the family and enjoying and playing good golf courses. I've been staying with my parents at Upper Largo."

Alan McLean, the South African ex-pat, finished four shots behind Laird after a closing 71, with Stephen Gallacher a further shot behind as he signed off with a birdie for his 71.

"I don't think I've played the courses in that wind before - it was totally different," said 2004 winner Gallacher."I played good, especially considering I didn't think I'd be playing here at the start of the week (due to a back injury].

"I struggled a wee bit off the tee at Carnoustie, but that's the toughest I've ever played that course, at three par-4s you couldn't get up in two."

Paul Lawrie, another former Dunhill Links champion, closed with a 69 - his best round of the week - to finish in a tie for 22nd on 284, three shots less than Colin Montgomerie.

Europe's winning Ryder Cup captain followed three straight 72s with a closing 71, signing off with a birdie-3 at the ninth after being among those who started at the tenth.

Unlike most of his team at Celtic Manor, Montgomerie is not playing in this week's Portugal Masters. Instead, he's off to Malaysia for the Johor Open, an event being promoted by IMG, along with Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen.

For Andrew Coltart, who finished on 289 after a 75, next up is this week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship, where he'll be taking on the cream of the Tartan Tour.