Martin Laird lit up TPC Sawgrass for a 5-under-par 32-35=67 in the final round of THE PLAYERS, posting a number for the final pairings to negotiate.
Laird hasn't made a cut since his win at the Valero Texas Open in early April, but much like his final round at TPC San Antonio he took it deep in Ponte Vedra Beach on Sunday. He got things moving with a two-foot birdie on the par-5 second, then added back-to-back birdies from inside eight feet on four and five. He finished his front nine with a three-foot birdie on the par-5 ninth. He added another short birdie on 13, then tacked on his longest birdie of the day on 16 from 11'9". He came to 18 bogey-free, but a poor drive led to his only dropped shot of the round. In the end, he posted a 10-under 278. While there's a chance it will be good enough for a playoff, he can likely begin to focus his attention on an off week since he is not playing the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

Martin Laird spun a 5-under-par 32-35=67 in his second round of THE PLAYERS to reach the midpoint in 6-under 138, five strokes off the 36-hole clubhouse lead.
The Scot shared runner-up honors with three others at TPC Sawgrass last year, so his current position is no surprise. In today's loop, he hit 14 greens in regulation and buried six birdies. Four among the set dropped in from beyond 11 feet, the longest measuring 31'2" at the third hole. He also converted a par attempt from 16'2" at 8. His lone blemish occurred at the par-4 18th where he failed to get up and down from laying up 35 yards short of the hole, eventually settling for bogey.

Martin Laird tied for second in his fourth trip to THE PLAYERS last season and return to TPC Sawgrass with a win already checked off in 2013.
Laird came out of nowhere to win the Valero Texas Open the week before the Masters, but has only managed to follow that up with two missed cuts. Given his game was in a state of shambles before his trip to TPC San Antonio, the possibility can't be eliminated that he would again factor in an unexpected fashion. It's still probably best to holster him until some consistency prevails.

Martin Laird settled for a 4-over-par 36-40=76 in his opening round of the Masters.
The Scot was the last into the field via his victory in San Antonio on Sunday, but his strong play ended in Texas. He recorded the first of five bogeys at Augusta National today with a 5 at the first hole. His only birdie fell in at the par-4 seventh. Overall, he hit only seven greens in regulation but still needed 29 putts. He's making his third consecutive appearance in the major where he's cashed twice despite opening rounds of 74 and 76, respectively. This is to say that you can't rule him out for another payday this week.

Martin Laird earned his third PGA TOUR title with a bogey-free 9-under-par 31-32=63 in the final round, earning the 94th and final spot into the Masters.
Laird's 63 tied Matt Every for the TPC San Antonio course record, and his final tally of 14-under 70-71-70-63=274 ties Adam Scott for the tournament record at this venue. He began the round as an afterthought, but thrust himself in the conversation with birdies on five of his first eight holes. After a sixth birdie at the par-4 12th, he was in the mix to stay. He ended his round with a 17'8" birdie at the par-3 16th following a nice teach from Jeff Overton, a 16'3" chip-in birdie on the par-4 17th and a 14'11" birdie on the 18th to hold off a hard-charging Rory McIlroy by two strokes. Laird's win was completely unexpected, as he had failed to finish any better than his T34 at Bay Hill a few weeks prior. To go with a spot in the field at Augusta National, he also enjoys inclusion in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship.

Martin Laird posted a 2-under-par 35-35=70 in his opening round of the Valero Texas Open.
This is a nice surprise. The Scot hasn't begun a tournament with a round this low since opening the season with a 69 at the Humana Challenge. His scoring average in seven first rounds since is 72.86. Laird hit 11 greens in regulation at TPC San Antonio today, offsetting four bogeys with six birdies. Four of his birdies found the cup from outside 12 feet, the longest measuring 20'6" at 7. He also poured in consecutive par saves from 13'11" and 10'10" beginning at the 11th hole. He signed his card sitting two strokes off the clubhouse lead.

Martin Laird enters the Shell Houston Open fresh off a season-best T34 at Bay Hill.
Considering one of Laird's two PGA TOUR wins came at Bay Hill, it would have been a concern if he didn't post a respectable finish. He's made two of his three cuts at Redstone, with a T40 his best showing. He's a steady 30th in ball-striking, but a dismal 167th in strokes gained-putting.

Martin Laird is playing in The Honda Classic for the first time since 2009.
Laird made just two (of four) cuts on the West Coast Swing, with not much to show for it. Further, his two missed cuts were in his last two events. While gamers should sit this one out on Laird, it's important to see how he begins to trend as he heads to tournaments where his resume is traditionally stronger. Given his past success at the Tampa Bay Championship and Bay Hill, we would like to see something out of him this week to better understand his value in those events.

Martin Laird will get 2013 underway at the Humana Challenge.
Quick starts aren't uncommon for the Scot, finishing runner-up to Steve Stricker at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions to kick off 2012 before sharing 14th at last year's Humana. Laird has the length to tackle the par 5s on the short three-course rotation on tap for this week. Motivated to try and get into a few more elite events, know that he's vested to give it his best shot.