SCARE AND ATTENTION
Family guy Martin back at his best after daughter’s return to health
MARTIN LAIRD admits having his kids around him in Long Island is giving his game a boost after a family scare last week.
The Scot shot a one-under 69 at the Northern Trust tournament yesterday, taking him just four shots off the clubhouse lead.
But he was forced to withdraw from the Wyndham Championship after just one round last week when 15-month-old daughter Hannah became unwell.
He rushed home to Charlotte to see her but thankfully the illness didn’t prove to be too serious.
Hannah and elder brother Jack, 3, have now joined Laird at Glen Oaks along with his wife Meagan.
And he reckons that has played a big part in the form that has left him on two under at the halfway stage.
World No.1 Dustin Johnson (69), Rickie Fowler (66) and Jonathan Vegas (65) share the clubhouse lead at six under. But Laird is chasing them down and admits the worries and fears of last weekend have now disappeared.
He said: “Our daughter took ill and the best place for me was to be at home. But she has recovered and it’s great to see them here now.”
Laird hit five birdies and four bogeys in a rollercoaster round and was thrilled with his display on the greens after taking just 28 putts.
He said: “I started with a couple of good up-and-downs and that is important around a big golf course like this. I putted really well. While I missed a couple, I holed a good few as well and on very hard greens with the pins tucked away.”
● Marc Warren roared into contention at the Made in Denmark tournament as a scorching 64 left him just one shot off the lead.
The Scot, who won the event in 2014, moved from level par to seven under at Himmerland and is hot on the heels of English leader Steve Webster (70).
Warren said: “Being near the top of the leaderboard makes a change from the last while!
“You can feed off being a past champion at any event and the good memories of coming down the stretch. Hopefully I can continue to play well.
“I was in control from start to finish today and struck the ball solidly. It was a great round.”
England’s David Horsey (67) joined Warren on seven under alongside Irishman Paul Dunne (68) and India’s SSP Chawrasia (68).