Martin Laird Takes the Lead at Myrtle Beach Classic
Martin Laird didn’t find out he was in the Myrtle Beach Classic until Monday, but he’s already making the most of his opportunity. Three days later, he tied his personal-best with nine birdies in a 7-under 64, giving him a one-shot lead on Thursday in only his second PGA Tour start of the year. Laird’s impressive performance has put him ahead of Aaron Rai and Keita Nakajima, a former No. 1 amateur in the world, who are currently at 65.
Laird, a 43-year-old golfer with four PGA Tour victories under his belt, got into the tournament when Andrew Putnam qualified for the $20 million signature event at Quail Hollow and withdrew from Myrtle Beach, opening up a spot. Laird’s last PGA Tour win was in Las Vegas in the fall of 2020, and he’s been bouncing between the Korn Ferry Tour and whatever PGA Tour events he can get into, which hasn’t been much. His only other start this year was in the Puerto Rico Open, where he tied for 57th.
According to Laird, getting to play in a PGA Tour event is a huge opportunity, and he’s grateful for the chance to compete at his age. “Any time you get to play in a PGA Tour event even at my age is still great,” he said. “It’s been fine going back and forth, but it’s hard sometimes to jump back and forth because you don’t really know where you’re going and what run you’re going to have.” Laird’s strategy seems to be working, as he made eight putts over 10 feet, just one short of the record in the ShotLink era.
The Competition Heats Up
The winner of the Myrtle Beach Classic will get into the PGA Championship if they are not already eligible, which is a significant incentive for the players. While it’s too early for Laird to think about that, he’s focused on his game and trying to make the most of his opportunity. Other notable players, such as John VanDerLaan, Paul Peterson, and Mark Hubbard, are currently at 68, while Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker is in a large group at 67. Brooks Koepka is tied for 17th at 3 under.
As the tournament continues, it will be exciting to see how the players perform and who will come out on top. With his current lead, Laird is in a great position, but he’ll need to keep his momentum going to take home the win. The Myrtle Beach Classic is shaping up to be an exciting event, with many talented players competing for the top spot.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
