Scotsman targets Scottish Open title
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MARTIN Laird hopes to become the first native Scotsman to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open since Colin Montgomerie over a decade ago.
The 29-year-old is relishing a return to Castle Stuart and an attempt to win one of the titles he covets among the most important in the game.
The Arizona-based world number 31 will compete at the event from 12th to 15th July.
He hopes to be the first Scottish winner since 1999.
"Playing in Scotland is something I really love coming home for," Laird said. "The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is one of the most important events on my schedule so I am really looking forward to getting back to Castle Stuart in July.
"I think most Scots who live abroad and spend most of their time away from Scotland have an extra sense of patriotism and I am no different. The more time you spend out of the country, the more you find yourself promoting it.
"I am the first person to tell anyone in America how great a country Scotland is and obviously what a fabulous destination it is to go and play golf, so to have the chance to come home and play in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is a real honour for me.
"It goes without saying I would love to win it — that would be one of the highlights of my career to win the Scottish Open in front of one of the best golf crowds in the world. I think every Scotsman in the field would feel the same about winning in front of the home fans and it’s about time we produced another home winner."
Laird played at Castle Stuart last year, producing three rounds of 70 to make the cut but finished well behind the champion, Luke Donald, in the 54-hole event.
