Laird a winner in Las Vegas
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open | Round Four | 19 Oct 2009
Scotland’s Martin Laird has won his first PGA Tour event after a three hole playoff against Chad Campbell and George McNeill at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children tournament at the TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.
Laird birdied the third extra hole, although when he rolled in his 15 foot putt for victory, two putts would have done it after McNeill had found the edge of the hazard with his approach and could only manage a bogey.
Campbell had dropped out of the playoff at second extra hole after he took a bogey at the par three 17th and it was left to McNeill and Laird to sort out a winner.
Still only 26, Laird struggled earlier this season after only just saving his card at the very last event in 2008. His last five starts have turned his season and his career around with a runner up finish in Reno and now this win securing his immediate future on the PGA Tour.
Jim Furyk started the final round so far behind that he was in the half of the field who were forced to start their rounds from the 10th tee. Despite finishing 90 minutes ahead of the final group, Furyk fell only one short of being involved in the playoff and perhaps winning this event for the fourth time after a superb round of 62.
Furyk shared 4th with Jeff Klauk whose late bogey at the 17th cost him a chance of his first PGA Tour victory.
Spare a thought also for another looking for his first win, Scott Piercy. Tied in the lead with two holes to play, Piercy double-bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes to eventually finish 14th.
The Australian challenge was headed by Greg Chalmers who finished 14th, Aaron Baddeley and Steve Elkington were 38th, Nathan Green and Mathew Goggin 47th, Stuart Appleby 58th and Nick O’Hern 71st.
The PGA Tour now moves to Scottsdale for the Frys.com Open.
