LAS VEGAS — The higher the stakes, the calmer Martin Laird became.
The former Colorado State golfer won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, beating George McNeill with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff in the Fall Series event.
Laird, from Scotland, closed with a 3-under-par 68 to match McNeill (67) and former UNLV player Chad Campbell (69) at 19-under 265. Campbell was eliminated on the second extra hole.
“I don’t know whether it was because I had a nice long par on 18 to get into the playoff,” Laird said. “But when I got into the playoff I was surprised; I kind of chilled out a little. I was pretty nervous the last two or three holes in regulation, and once I got there in the playoff I kind of relaxed a little more.
“And when I stood up there on the first playoff hole and struck the ball down the middle, it was the perfect way to start the playoff.”
Laird earned $756,000 and a two-your tour exemption for the breakthrough victory at TPC Summerlin in his 53rd tour start. He jumped from 134th to 62nd on the money list with $1,271,254.
Three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk (62) and Jeff Klauk (68) tied for fourth at 18 under, and former UNLV player Charley Hoffman (68) followed at 17 under.
Laird holed an 11-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for the victory after McNeill, the 2007 winner, hit his approach near the greenside water hazard, then lipped out an 18-foot par putt.
Campbell dropped out with a bogey on the par-3 17th.
“I didn’t play that well today,” Campbell said. “I was able to hang around and make some putts and make some birdies to get myself into the playoff. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get it done.”
Laird took the lead from Campbell and Furyk at 19 under with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. Laird parred the next six holes before birdieing the par-5 16th to reach 20 under, then dropped back with a bogey on 17.
McNeill birdied the 18th to join Laird and Campbell at 19 under, and Campbell and Laird then closed with pars to set up the playoff.
Footnotes.
John Cook won his third career Champions Tour title and first of the season, with a 4-under 68 to hold off Jay Haas and Bob Tway by two strokes in the Administaff Small Business Classic in The Woodlands, Texas. Cook finished at 11-under 205.
• England’s Lee Westwood won the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura for his first victory since September 2007, closing with a 6-under 66. Westwood finished at 23-under 265 and moved to the top of the European money list.
• Chad Collins won the Miccosukee Championship in Miami for his second career Nationwide Tour title, closing with a 1-under 70.
