MARTIN LAIRD produced his equal lowest opening round all year to muscle his way to five under par and a share of the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Barclays Championship.
Laird didn’t drop a shot in his score of 66 in hot and humid conditions around the Black Course at Bethpage Park on New York’s Long Island.
The Scot took full advantage of the more forgiving front nine on the course set to host the 2019 US Open and 2024 Ryder Cup to be four under par after eight holes before coming in with one birdie and eight solid pars.
And after competing in the 2009 US Open and the 2012 Barclays at Bethpage Park, Laird’s opening score for this event is two shots fewer than his previous best for the course of 68 in 2012.
“The 2009 US Open was really wet and the course played longer, and it was easier to hit the fairways back then as the ball would just splat," he said.
“Whereas today two to three times I missed the fairway and I had maybe 180-yards to the front and could still get it up there around the green – at the US Open that wasn’t the case.
“But then the course is in great shape but with the wind picking up it will continue to dry out and get a little firmer.”
While fellow Scot Russell Knox, who was out in the afternoon half of the draw in the $8.5m event, is focused on getting a European Ryder Cup wildcard pick next Tuesday, Laird would like to set his sights on qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.
He teed-up sitting 89th on the play-offs points list but only once in his PGA Tour career, in 2010, has Laird made it through to the final event of the PGA Tour season by finishing 11th on the money list.
“When I stepped onto the first tee this morning all I was thinking about was my first tee shot, so I can’t really get ahead of myself," Laird said.
“That’s one of the big things that I have got better at as my career has progressed and that’s not getting ahead of myself.
“I know that all sounds cliche and boring but then I know if I do play well this week I can then go onto the Deutsche Bank next week and then maybe get myself into the BMW Championship.
“So if all goes well these three weeks and I could qualify my way into the Tour Championship then well and good but right now I will try and do the same tomorrow, and that is to again step on that first tee thinking about finding the first fairway.
“But then it is a good time to be playing well and I am just pleased to be showing some nice form at this important end to the year.”
American Patrick Reed shares the clubhouse lead with Laird, with Rickie Fowler, who posted a four-under-par 67, desperate to do enough this week to earn one of Davis Love III's Hazeltine wildcard picks.
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