Scotland's Martin Laird secured his first PGA Tour title at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The 26-year-old came through a three-hole play-off against Chad Campbell and George McNeill.
It was a crucial week for Laird in his burgeoning professional career. At the start of the tournament he was 134th on the money list and in danger of losing his card for 2010. But, with the win, Laird earned a two-year exemption and jumped to 62nd on the money list with 2009 earnings well over $1 million.
The Scot fired a solid closing round of 68 at TPC Summerlin to tie with George McNeill and Chad Campbell on a regulation total of 19-under-par. Laird had taken the lead when he reached 20-under after a birdie on the 16th. But a bogey on the 17th dropped him back into a tie and extra holes were required.
There was nothing to separate the three after the first play-off hole but Campbell dropped out of the running with a bogey at the par-3 17th (the second extra hole.)
"I didn't play that well today," said Campbell. "I was able to hang around and make some putts and make some birdies to get myself into the play-off. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it done."
Laird and McNeill (the 2007 winner) went on to the 18th where Laird holed an 11-foot birdie putt for the victory after McNeill had missed an 18-foot par effort.
"When I got into the playoff I was surprised," Laird said. "I kind of chilled out a little. I was pretty nervous the last two or three holes in regulation, and once I got there in the playoff I kind of relaxed a little more."
Jim Furyk fired an excellent closing round of 62 to move into a tie for fourth place with Jeff Klauk.
Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada Oct 15-18, purse $4,200,000, par 71
1 Martin Laird (Sco) 63 67 67 68 265 $756,000 T2 Chad Campbell (USA) 67 62 67 69 265 $369,600 T2 George McNeill (USA) 66 69 63 67 265 $369,600 T4 Jim Furyk (USA) 64 67 73 62 266 $184,800 T4 Jeff Klauk (USA) 65 67 66 68 266 $184,800 6 Charley Hoffman (USA) 66 69 64 68 267 $151,200 T7 Rickie Fowler (USA) 67 64 69 68 268 $113,700 T7 Matt Kuchar (USA) 66 64 72 66 268 $113,700 T7 Ryan Moore (USA) 67 63 70 68 268 $113,700 T7 Tom Pernice Jr (USA) 62 69 68 69 268 $113,700 T7 Tim Petrovic (USA) 65 68 72 63 268 $113,700 T7 Andres Romero (Arg) 68 69 67 64 268 $113,700 T7 D.J. Trahan (USA) 71 65 65 67 268 $113,700
Player scores listed in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only Where next? Lee Westwood wins Portugal Masters
