Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Martin Laird talks to skysports.com about his upcoming Masters debut.
Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Martin Laird talks to skysports.com about his upcoming Masters debut.
When Martin Laird won the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Sunday - his second win in America - casual observers of PGA Tour golf were wondering just where this talented Scotsman had come from.
The lack of recognition on British shores is explained by Laird's decision to leave his homeland aged 17 to take up a golf scholarship at Colorado State University in America.
The move has certainly paid off for the 28-year-old Glaswegian. He posted his first PGA Tour win at the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and last year twice reached play-offs, results which helped him end the year in the world's top 50 and book himself a first trip to Augusta.
That progress has continued in 2011 and after finishes of tied 10th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and tied fifth in the Transitions Championship, Laird completed a brilliant Florida Swing by landing the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
So can he follow in the footsteps of compatriot Sandy Lyle, the 1988 winner, and become the second Scotsman to don the Green Jacket?
Skysports.com caught up with Martin recently to find out his memories of past Masters and his hopes for this year's event.
How excited are you to be in the Masters for the time?
ML: Yeah you know I'm really looking forward to it. After playing The Open it was next on my list. It's one of the places that people say it doesn't live up to your expectations it exceeds them when you get there.
Have you ever been to Augusta?
ML: Never been there and I've always said I don't want to go till I'm playing. I'm going to try and get out there a month or two before the Masters and play a practice round and see the course and then when tournament week comes along I'll have been there once before. (for update scroll to bottom of page)
Did you watch it on TV as kid?
ML: Oh yeah, you know I've watched it every year. It's the one tournament that's at the same venue every year so you get to know the course well. You kinda feel you know the course without ever being there. So that'll be interesting when I get there to see how different it is.
Which Masters stick in the memory?
ML: I remember as a little kid staying up late watching it with my Dad. You know Greg Norman was always my favourite golfer growing up so I remember '96 when he struggled on the Sunday and Faldo beat him. The meltdown on the Sunday certainly sticks in my mind. I would have been 13 or 14 then. It's never fun to watch someone struggle like that especially as you knew how much he wanted to win that tournament. Apart from that it seemed the Europeans were always doing well - Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle. It was kind of weird it was the first major of the year in America and the Europeans seemed to do best.
Which holes are you particularly looking forward to?
ML: Holes like 12, the par 3, the whole of Amen corner but mostly the par 3.
How will you prepare for the event?
ML: I'm going to have the week before off and then head out there a day or two earlier.
Do you know who you might practice with?
ML: I'll try and get a hold of Sandy Lyle and see if he'll play a round with me. He's been there plenty of times and knows his way around it.
If you don't win who do you think will?
ML: Tough question. Phil's been the one to beat there the last few years. I'm sure Tiger will be playing great by the time it comes around. Outside of that there are so many players playing well right now it's hard - Kaymer, Westwood, McDowell. There's not a clear runaway leader. There are five or six players that could get hot for a while and be number one. It's great for the game at the moment.
* We spoke to Martin just before the Florida Swing started. On the Monday of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral he did make his first trip to Augusta and was suitably wowed.
He said: "I loved the golf course. I feel like it really does set up pretty good for me with hitting it high. And I know those greens will get real firm like this, and obviously putting is probably the strongest part of my game right now and that's really what it all comes down to coming down the stretch at Augusta. I can't wait to get there."
