Martin Laird battles hard on the final day to win at Arnold Palmer Invitational - PGA Tour
The Arnold Palmer Invitational concluded yesterday at the Bay Hill Country Club and only one player could be victorious. The man from Scotland, Martin Laird, managed a rather moderate round and posted his second win playing on the PGA Tour.
Laird started his day as the overnight leader. He had a lead of two shots starting the final round and was a bit under pressure by his nearest competitor. The 28-year-old managed to card a final round of three-over par, 75 which was enough for him to become
the champion.
The score card shows that Laird was a bit under pressure on the final day. He had a double-bogey, four bogeys and three birdies on his card. The three birdies which came at the right time helped him clinch the trophy. It was the par-4, 11th which
turned out to be a disaster for him as his drive went way off the fairway and he had to be content with a double-bogey.
As he walked on the final 18th, he only needed two putts to claim his stake to the trophy. Laird made the first putt and was only three feet short of his par. He tapped in his par putt and was relieved as he completed the final day.
At the prize ceremony, Laird said, "That was a h**l of a day. That was a tough fight out there. It was a battle out there, but you know, it makes it even sweeter at the end when I got this trophy."
Laird was playing along with his closest competitor, Steve Marino. Marino played well on the final day and gave the winner a run for his money. He made a double bogey, two bogeys and four birdies. Marino’s double bogey on the par-3, 17th proved
a costly one for him. He managed to make a birdie on the final hole but was just one shot behind Laird.
Laird is now the first European to have won at Bay Hill and he will now be targeting the Masters which starts next week.
Three players shared the third spot on the score board after the final day. Englishman Justin Rose, Marc Leishman of Australia and David Toms all had the same scores. They had a four round score of six-under par, 282 and ended two behind the winner.
Rose improved his position on the leader board as he carded a round of four-under par, 68. He had an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys. The only eagle came on the par-5, 12th where his approach shot from three-wood landed just a couple of feet
inside the hole. The Englishman was very much pleased with his final round.
Tiger Woods finished the championship with a round of even-par, 72. He was playing brilliantly through the first sixteen holes and made three birdies. Woods lost three shots in the final two holes and was tied for the 24th spot.
Woods was disappointed with a bogey and double-bogey marked on his card. The 35-year-old looked impressive but his swing misery continues to plague him.
The defending champion Ernie Els finished the final day with a disastrous score of six-over par, 78. He was tied at the end of the score board and was upset with the way he played on all the four days.
Laird picked up the winner’s cheque of US$ 1.08 million along with the trophy.
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