Laird feels ‘better equipped’ to make serious challenge

Martin Laird was an Open contender in 2013 and is ready to put himself into the mix again, writes Eric Nicolson.

The American-based Scot is handily placed after a twounder first round.

He believes his experience of squandering good early work at Muirfield will stand him in good stead at Royal Birkdale.

Two poor holes yesterday weren’t going to dampen his spirits when there were 16 he was happy with.

“I bogeyed the first and bogeyed the last and everything in between was very good,” said Laird.

“I’m obviously very pleased with my start. I played really nicely and hit the ball great with two or three almost tapin birdies.

“I really worked hard on my game at the start of this week after not playing very well last week at the Scottish Open. It showed today because that’s the best I’ve hit the ball in a while.”

Laird had excellent rounds four years ago before blowing 36 holes of good work with an 81 in round three.

It was an experience that will benefit him, though, if he can make the cut and stay near the frontrunners going into this weekend.

“I was in the mix at some point on the Saturday and that proved to myself that I could still play on these courses even though I had been gone for a while and not played links golf in America,” he said.

“But my game is a little more rounded now and more suited for this type of tournament.

“I would definitely feel better equipped if I found myself in that position again now. I’m a few years older and wiser so I’d definitely handle it better.”

Laird added: “You can’t get ahead of yourself out here on these courses.

“I know I’m playing well and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling confident on the first tee. But you just don’t know on these courses. I’m very happy with how I finished.

“Generally speaking over my career, the harder the course and tougher the tournament the better I play.

“It’s when the scores are not the lowest and the set-ups are tough that I’m at my best because I feel like I’m pretty good at working my way around the golf course.”