Lowly Laird aims high

Unheralded Scot changes game plan after firing 65 Saturday at The Barclays

By: Doug Ferguson Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Martin Laird's biggest goal at The Barclays was to play well enough to reach the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Now he can aim a lot higher.

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PARAMUS, N.J. -- Martin Laird's biggest goal at The Barclays was to play well enough to reach the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Now he can aim a lot higher.

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PARAMUS, N.J. — Martin Laird’s biggest goal at The Barclays was to play well enough to reach the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Now he can aim a lot higher.

Laird, who started at No. 95 in the standings, ran off four birdies early in his round and kept bogeys off his card Saturday at Ridgewood Country Club for a 6-under 65 to build a three-shot lead over Dustin Johnson and Jason Day.

Laird was at 12-under 201. A victory for the 27-year-old Scot would move him to No. 1, assuring him a spot in all four majors next year.

MICHAEL KARAS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Martin Laird, an unlikely leader, lines up a putt on the 15th hole during Saturday's third round. — MICHAEL KARAS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Martin Laird, an unlikely leader, lines up a putt on the 15th hole during Saturday's third round.

Tiger Woods also has something at stake today, but it most likely won’t be a trophy. After missing only one fairway in each of the first two rounds, Woods hit his opening tee shot off the property and took triple bogey. He couldn’t get those three shots back and shot 72, putting him nine shots behind. He needs a steady final round just to advance to the second round next week outside Boston.

For Johnson, who has found nothing but hard luck in the majors this year, it will be his second straight tournament playing in the final group. So much for that hangover from the PGA Championship, where he was penalized two shots on the final hole when he didn’t realize he was in a bunker at Whistling Straits, knocking him out of a playoff.

Johnson, struggling with a cold and his swing earlier in the week, began to hit his stride on a sunny day in northern New Jersey. On the 616-yard 13th hole, he blasted a 3-wood to about 15 feet for eagle, and added consecutive birdies a short time later on his way to a 64 that gave him a chance to win.

"I definitely put myself into the hunt," Johnson said.

Day remains there, too, although he didn’t help himself on a day for scoring at Ridgewood. The 22-year-old Australian regained the lead by chipping for eagle on the short par-4 fifth hole, but he simply missed too many putts and struggled enough with his driver to give it away. Day made five bogeys, one of them on a par 5 on the back nine, and had to settle for a 70.

Adam Scott birdied the 18th hole for a 68 and was four shots behind.

Calgary’s Stephen Ames moved up the leaderboard after firing a 69. He’s nine shots back.

On the day before European captain Colin Montgomerie announces his three captain’s picks, it might be pleasing to see a fellow Scot atop the leaderboard against such a strong field.

Too bad it’s Laird, who played college golf at Colorado State and never left the American golf circuits. Plus, he has played so poorly all year that he’s not even thinking about the Ryder Cup.

Laird was simply trying to get into the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings to qualify for the playoffs, accomplishing that in the last three weeks.

— The Associated Press