Laird lords it in Barclays as he drives route 66

Scot Martin Laird produced his equal lowest opening round all year to muscle his way to five under par and a share of the early 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 at Bethpage Park at New York’s Long Island.

Laird was four under par after eight holes before playing in the inward half with one birdie and eight solid pars.

After competing in the 2009 US Open and the 2012 Barclays each at Bethpage Park, Laird’s opening score in the opening event of the 2016 FedEx Cup Series is two shots fewer than a 68 on day three of the 2012 Barclays.

“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 180yd to the front and could still get it up there around the green and at the US Open that wasn’t the case.

“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 one of the later starters, is focused on getting a European Ryder Cup wildcard pick on Tuesday, Laird would like to set his sights of qualifying for the season-ending Tour championship in Atlanta.

American Patrick Reed shared the early clubhouse lead with Laird and along with Rickie Fowler, who posted a four-under 67, was desperate to do enough this week to earn one of American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love’s Hazeltine wildcard picks.

Qualifying for the US team ends on Sunday with the top eight heading to Hazeltine, while Love will announce three of his four picks on Sunday, September 11, and straight after the BMW championship.