Martin Laird is looking to copy fellow Scot Andy Murray and win on home soil in the Scottish Open which starts on Thursday at Castle Stuart.
Scottish sport is currently on a high following Murray’s success in the Wimbledon men’s final and Laird could add to that with victory on his own stomping ground.
The 30-year-old is based in the United States and plays on the PGA Tour but he is returning home to compete in the Scottish Open to prepare for the Open.
The Open takes places next week at Muirfield further down the east coast and Laird is hoping the weather can play a part and show the other players an example of “true links” golf.
Laird admits it was great to see Murray lift the trophy at SW19 and he is hoping he can emulate him by winning the Open to add to the success for sportsmen north of the border.
He said: “When you think of how hard he (Murray) has worked and how he made it his mission to win, it can’t help but give you pride both as a Scot and a Briton.
“Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis just like winning The Open is the pinnacle of golf and if I could hopefully do that next week it would be great to have two Scottish winners in the space of a few weeks.
“I’m sure with the weather we’ve been having the greens will be firm and fast and play like a true links course – which is a great warm-up for next week.”
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