Golf: Laird dreams of playing in Ryder Cup

Martin LAIRD had only Georgia and his first-ever round at The Masters on his mind today.

But in under five months' time, the Ryder Cup race will begin and, as things stand, Scotland's best player will be ineligible for points at first.

On the verge of breaking into the world's top 20 after capturing his second title in America two weeks ago, the 28-year-old would love to be part of Jose Maria Olazabal's European side in Chicago next year.

But the Arizona-based golfer has chosen not to be a European Tour member this season after being told he would have to play at least 13 counting Order of Merit events - and unless that changes he will be giving everyone else a four-month start.

It is a huge handicap to carry and Olazabal getting the number of wild cards down from three to two does not help him either. Laird has decided to keep his main focus on the States for the time being and is a victim of his own success in a way. "I made enough money (over 212,000) in five events last year for a full European card," he said.

"I'm never going to complain about doing too well, but I was told I had to play 12 events (it has now gone up to 13) this year to stay a member.

"If you don't you're suspended, so I had to actually give it up this year and I intend to become an affiliate member again next year.

"Making the Ryder Cup would be one of the biggest, if not the biggest achievement in my career.

"Just because I've been over here (in America) since 2000 doesn't mean I don't think of myself as Scottish and European.

"Especially the way my game's improved, it's gone from being kind of an outside thought to definitely now it's on the radar."

Interestingly, Justin Rose played only one more event than Laird on the European Tour last year and resigned, but the possible suspension was not imposed by chief executive George O'Grady and as a member again he is free to start earning points in September.