Laird plans Euro schedule

MARTIN Laird, who is missing this week’s Dunhill Links Championship to play in one of his favourite events on the PGA Tour, is unlikely to launch his Ryder Cup challenge on the European Tour’s ‘Middle East Swing’ early next year.

The Arizona-based Scot has revealed it is likely to be later in the season before he heads across the Atlantic in his bid to make Jose Maria Olazabal’s team to face the Americans at Medinah in a year’s time. “I’m still not too sure yet what European events I will be playing next year,” said Laird. “However, I don’t think that I will be playing too many in the early part of the year. It is more likely to be towards the summer and through the summer that I hope to play a few.”

They could include the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth at the end of May, and the Scottish Open, which he has played for the last three years.

Laird played in the Dunhill Links last year, closing with a 67 over the Old Course to finish in a tie for fifth behind Martin Kaymer.

“The reason I’m not coming back for the Dunhill this year, unfortunately, is that it falls opposite the tournament in Las Vegas this week,” said the Scot, who won that event two years ago and lost in a play-off 12 months ago. “But I hope to be back next year to play.”

Meanwhile, former winner Paul Lawrie is contemplating joining the growing band of players to use a belly putter when he lines up in this week’s pro-am event at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.