Martin Laird

Martin Laird

41-Year-Old Golfer
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
The highlight of Laird's season was a second-place finish in the 3M Open, but the Scot made the cut in only 15 of 31 events. He played well enough in the made cuts to earn him 115th in the FedEx Cup Rankings, but driving distance and approach shots from 200-plus yards continue to be a weakness in his game. Read Past Outlooks
Finishes T37 in Texas
May 29, 2024
Laird registered a one-over 73 in the Charles Schwab Challenge to finish tied for the 37th spot.
ANALYSIS
Laird registered two birdies in the final round which was tied at 34th. He finished with five bogeys as well which was tied at 50th. Laird will next feature in the upcoming RBC Canadian Open.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Martin Laird See More
Yahoo PGA DFS Picks: Shriners Children's Open Cash and GPP Strategy
19 days ago
Kurt Kitayama could be flying under the radar a bit, but Bryce Danielson believes he is worth adding to your lineups for this week's PGA DFS contests on Yahoo.
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20 days ago
The numbers indicate Beau Hossler is worth including in your lineups for this week's PGA DFS contests on FanDuel, and Ryan Andrade is on board with that plan.
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20 days ago
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27 days ago
Lucas Glover has gotten going once again, and Len Hochberg recommends finding a spot for him in your lineups for this week's PGA DFS contests on DraftKings.
2024 3M Open Betting: Picks, Odds, Predictions and Best Bets
103 days ago
Emiliano Grillo has been very strong at TPC Twin Cities in his career, and Ryan Pohle has the Argentinean amongst his betting picks for this week's 3M Open.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2020
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2013
2012
2011
2010
Laird wasn't a name you saw at the top of leaderboards often last season with just one top-10 result - a solo third at the alternate event Barracuda Championship. Statisically he struck the ball well, however, ranking 30th in strokes-gained tee-to-green but for a third straight year was held back by his putter. He's due for some more top-10 results next season.
Laird picked up his fourth career PGA Tour win at the Shriners Open early in the season, but he didn't have much to show for after that. That was his only other top-20 in 27 total starts. Laird ended the season outside the top 150 in scoring average, so it's hard to feel too optimistic about his prospects for the 2021-22 campaign.
Laird was in the top-125 category last season but played in only 12 events - and never returned after the restart. It was not known why. He made seven cuts and had one top-25, a tie for sixth at the oppo Puerto Rico Open. Presumably, he will play more this season.
Laird's prospects as a salary cap selection are a thing of the past as he just doesn't have the upside that he once had. He's remained productive over the past six seasons, but he's topped $1.5 million in earnings just once in that span. Laird will likely find himself in the same spot this season as last season ... fighting for a spot inside the top-125. As such, there's no reason to consider him in salary cap leagues.
It might come as a surprise to learn that Laird is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour. This problem is, his last win came in 2013. That win came near the end of a very nice run on the PGA Tour, which saw Laird top the $2 million mark in three of four seasons. In the years since that run, Laird has spent most of his time right around the $1 million mark. That's exactly where he ended last season, which obviously makes him a poor salary cap selection this season.
Laird amassed four top-10s before the end of February last season, but he only managed one top-10 after that. Laird's only top-3 came at the Quicken Loans National in July, yet combined with his four other top-10s, he was able to get within striking distance of the $2 million mark. Laird is only 34, so he has plenty of good years left in him, but it looks like his peak years are in the past. As such, he's not a great salary cap option this season.
Laird was quick to make a splash on the PGA Tour when he first joined in 2008. He picked-up his first win in 2009 and followed that up with wins in 2011 and 2013. European Tour golfers don't often acclimate well to the PGA Tour, so what Laird accomplished early-on is very impressive. That was then however and over the past three seasons, he seems to have lost some juice. His highest earnings number in the past three seasons came last year, but it was only $1.2 million. With Laird the question is whether or not he can get back to his previous highs. Since it's been four years since he cracked the $2 million mark, it's probably wise to pass on him in salary cap formats this season. In drafts, he should go near the eighth or ninth round.
Laird's game went off the rails last year and there's really no explaining it, but if his previous four seasons tell us anything, it's that he'll be back. Laird is fully exempt for the upcoming season because of his win at the Valero Texas Open. He did regress the previous season as well, but still managed to earn over $1.7 million. Expect Laird to at least get back to that level this season. As such, he's a "must-have" in salary cap leagues this year.
Laird was a one-hit-wonder in 2013, picking up most of his earnings at one event, the Valero Texas Open. That win came as a surprise as he wasn't playing too well coming in and he didn't play very well after that week as well. All of that makes him a risky pick in salary cap leagues. In draft leagues he should go in the 50-60 range.
Laird is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, but last season he failed to crack the winner's circle. He did, however, pick up two runner-up finishes, one of which came at the Players Championship. After that runner-up finish his play was unspectacular, failing to earn a single top-10 the remainder of the season. Laird is a solid player and worth a look at this price, but his upside might be limited. In draft leagues, Laird should go in the fourth or fifth round.
Laird continued his steady progression last season as he improved on his prior-year earnings by about $500K. The improvement resulted in career-high earnings. That he improved last season was no surprise. In fact, Laird has improved his earnings by at least $500k each season since his rookie year on the PGA Tour in 2008. Can he jump another $500K, though? That's a tough question. It' one thing to improve from $800K or even $1.3 million, but Laird posted a pretty hefty number last season. One reason that Laird could see another bump in earnings is his scoring average. In the previous three years, Laird was able to shave only a small fraction off his season average, but last year he improved by nearly three-quarters off a stroke. Laird is one of the exceptions in the high-priced range, a player capable of significantly improving his number this season. He should be considered early in the third round of draft leagues.
Laird was a hit-or-miss player in 2010, and for most of the season he missed badly. Laird started the season well with a fourth-place showing in his first event, but it wasn't until late May that he carded his next top-10. It didn't get much better after May, either, as he earned only one top-25 the next three months of the season. His fortunes turned around in late August, however, as he posted a runner-up performance at the Barclays. He backed that up about a month later with another runner-up finish at the JT Shriners Hospital event in October. Laird's track record of performing well mostly in autumn is a little troubling. Laird is consistently among the best on the PGA TOUR in driving distance and eagles-per-hole average, but it would be wise to pass on him until he plays better during the heart of the PGA TOUR season.
Laird made 20-of-29 cuts in his rookie season of 2008, but he played the weekend in just 12-of 24 events last season. Still, Laird nearly doubled his earnings thanks to a win near the end of the season. Is that win a sign of things to come or is the bulk of his 2009 a better indicator? Laird's numbers suggest he won't go up from here, so don't expect surprising production from him in 2010.
More Fantasy News
Finishes T48 in Texas
May 7, 2024
Laird carded a 12-under 67 in The CJ CUP Byron Nelson to finish in a tie for the 48th spot.
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Posts four rounds in the 60s
March 4, 2024
Laird recorded a two-under 69 in the final round of the Cognizant Classic to finish in a share of ninth place.
ANALYSIS
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Makes cut at Waste Management Open
February 12, 2024
Laird shot a two-under 69 on Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to finish tied for 53rd place.
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Rallies with final-round 65
November 6, 2023
Laird fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday at the World Wide Technology Championship to finsh 16-under and tied for 31st.
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Moves up with 64 on Sunday
July 30, 2023
Laird fired a seven-under 64 to move up to a share of second place at the 3M Open on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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