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Martin Laird credits altitude golf experience at CSU for his first PGA Tour win
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Former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird got a two-year PGA Tour exemption with his playoff victory over Chad Campbell and George McNeill Sunday in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas.
Laird, who entered the tournament at TPC Summerlin ranked 125th on the PGA Tour money list, earned $756,000 in his 53rd tour start. The 26-year-old Scot shot a 3-under 68 and tied with McNeill and Campbell, a former University of Nevada-Las Vegas golfer. Campbell was eliminated on the second playoff hole and Laird won by sinking an 11-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole at No. 18.
McNeill, who won this tournament in 2007, hit his approach near the greenside water hazard, then lipped out an 18-foot par putt. Campbell dropped out when he bogeyed the par-3 17th.
Laird said his playing days at CSU helped him prepare for playing at higher altitudes like Las Vegas. Though it wasn't exactly like his college days at a mile high in Fort Collins and throughout his travels in the Rocky Mountain region, Laird was thankful for his college experiences.
"My coach, Mark McCann, said to me, 'You should move to Nevada,' Laird said of his play at 2,021 feet in Las Vegas and a seocnd-place finish at Reno in August.
"I don't know why it is. I guess the tournaments we play in Reno (are) altitude. I went to college at Colorado State. I don't mind the ball playing 10 or 15 perfect extra (on distance). I lived in Scottsdale, very similar to here. I play about five or six percent farther here. When it warms up, I go farther. It's probably more than a
coincidence. I'm comfortable in the altitude and the temperatures here."
Laird entered the tournament on the bubble to keep his PGA Tour card heading into the Fall Series. The Timberlake tourney victory gives Laird quite a cushion after he had made 10 cuts on 22 previous starts. Laird tied for second with Jeff Quinney, three strokees behind winner John Rollins at the Reno-Tahoe Open on Aug. 9 as his best previous finish.
Laird doubled his season earnings with Sunday's victory. Before Sunday, Laird had won $741,515. After Sunday's triumph, Laird has earned $1,479,515 in 2009. That finish should move Laird into the top 60 on the money list.
But Laird said he wasn't thinking about his spot on the money list or trying to avoid have to play in the PGA Tour Qualifying tournament.
"You are out here every week trying to win," Laird said. "That's the goal. I was trying to come into the fall finish. I knew I really liked this golf course. It kind of sets up better for longer hitters because can you get the par-5s. I try to come in here, and I have been playing really well and not really think about it too much
and just go ahead and try to win the tournament like you do you every other week. It worked for me last year, not really paying attention to where I was on the money list, and it's worked again for me this year."
Laird's complete press transcripts after Sunday's final round.
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