Defending champion Laird returns to Texas looking for spark

DEFENDING VALERO Texas Open champion Martin Laird hopes this can be the week he halts the slide that has seen him slip out of the world’s top 100.

The United States-based Scot experienced what he called “the best round of golf I ever played” when a closing 63 saw him pip Rory McIlroy to the title at TPC San Antonio 12 months ago.

It came rather out of the blue, after steady earlier rounds of 70, 71 and 70, and Laird is aiming to find a similar spark when he heads out alongside Phil Mickelson and 20-yearold emerging star Jordan Spieth today.

Laird and Mickelson will be able to compare notes about their struggles in 2014, with neither man yet to register a top-10 finish.

After slipping three places to 101st in the rankings, following a 76thplaced finish at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Laird accepts his form is not what he wants it to be.

“I’ve been playing solid, just not great,” Laird said. “You hear all the time people saying they’re close. I feel like I am pretty close.”

The return to the scene of his third PGATour triumph could be the spur he needs.

He said. “I obviously have a lot of fond memories from last year and the way the tournament finished.

“I came in here last year probably actually playing worse than I am this year and managed to win. You never know with the golf course.”

SNS Group. Martin Laird.