The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Laird’s Ryder pledge fails
Scottish golfer Martin Laird’s bid to forget about the Ryder Cup failed miserably on his arrival at Wentworth yesterday.
MARTIN LAIRD’S vow to forget about Ryder Cup qualification failed miserably on arrival at Wentworth yesterday.
The fast-rising Scot arrived at the BMW PGA Championship to be told by captain Jose Maria Olazabal he was needed for fitting out of European team uniforms for the matches at Medinah in September.
Laird was just one of many players getting their measurements taken just in case they make the team, but Martin’s pledge to himself to put it at the back of his mind went by the board for a morning at least, and it certainly shows the 29-year-old, runner-up in the prestigious Players Championship two weeks ago, is well in contention.
He said: “It was nice to attend the fitting session this morning and here’s hoping it was not for no reason. It’s great to be a part of that and to know that you are in the mix.”
However, selection has been on the backburner because Laird felt he was setting too much stall in what he needed to do earlier this year.
“The Ryder Cup is obviously in my mind and I would really love to be part of that team but it’s important not to be out there thinking about it all the time,” he said.
“I finished second in my first event of the year and I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’t start thinking of qualifying automatically for the side.
“That might have been
part
of
the reason why I struggled with my game for a couple of months as I was thinking about it too much, so I took the view I hadn’t even played well enough to think of the Ryder Cup and therefore have been purposely trying not to think about it.
“Putting it out of my mind is going to help me and it’s by playing good golf that is going to get me on the team.”
The first evidence that this policy is working was his second in the Players behind Matt Kuchar and he continued: “It was a great result, a big jump up the World Ranking (to 31st) and a lot of Ryder Cup points but more than that it was the confidence I gained from that week.
“It was my best finish ever in what you might call a marquee event. They always talk about the Players being a fifth major but I have never ever been in contention in one of those huge events before, so it was nice to be up there.
“I felt really comfortable up there and in contention on the Sunday and that’s what I am taking most out of the tournament. I wasn’t at all nervous and when I was out there I felt I could still win.”
Laird has never played in the BMW PGA, having joined the European Tour this year.
“I played the course and for me there have been no changes, and it’s a brand new golf course and I like it,” he said.
“It’s a little tougher than I thought it would be. I remember watching this tournament over the years and the scores have always been pretty good. If you drive it well you can be right up there but if you don’t it’s going to be a long week.”
He will play four events in a row leading into the Open, including the French and Scottish before he goes to Lytham.
“It’s like this week, I haven’t played Lytham nor Olympic where the US Open is, and it makes it more fun because I have no expectations.
“I’ve made the error of over-preparing for big events in the past, and I haven’t done that this week and won’t do it for the two Opens.”
Laird has certainly been handed a marquee pairing for the first two rounds, as he will play with Wentworth resident and course re-designer Ernie Els and the current World number one Rory Mcilroy.
There are 13 Scots in all in the final field, including Tartan Tour pros Greig Hutcheon and David Patrick.