Martin Laird backs Robert MacIntyre for bigger things
'It seems like a while ago,' smiled Laird with a sense of nostalgia that could've been accompanied by the wistful music of a colliery brass band.
'I am proud of what I have managed over the years, too. I was kind of flying the flag over in the States for a while and it is nice to see someone else come over and keep that flag on those leaderboards.'
Laird has been making his first competitive outing in his homeland since 2018 and a third round one-over 73 at the Trump International Golf Links left him on the fringes of the top-30 on four-over heading into the final day.
The 42-year-old, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, has been employing the services of MacIntyre's old caddie, Mike Thomson, this week and there have been plenty of conversations about the impact the Oban lefty has made.
'I've been talking about that with Mikey as he saw him when he first came out on tour,' said Laird, who reached a career high of 21st on the world rankings during his playing pomp.
'He was one of those guys you could always see had talent and he also had the right mindset. He admitted when I first started playing with him that the biggest thing he noticed was that his wedge game wasn't quite good enough.
'His wedge game is obviously way better. He hits it miles now, too. That's a pretty good combination.'
Laird got to know his young compatriot when MacIntyre starting playing more regularly in the US.
'I'd heard of him but never knew him,' added Laird of a player who came close to a major breakthrough at June's US Open when he finished second.
'Then, when he first came over and we played a practice round together - it might even have been at The Masters or The PGA - I was like 'oh, yeah'. You can tell when someone hits a golf shot and it makes a nice noise.
'He's got a great attitude as well and I am not surprised at all to see him doing so well. I texted him after the US Open. He's someone who looks as though he is going to keep knocking on the door and, if he does, one of them is going to go his way. He's a hell of a player.'
While Laird has been settled in the US since his college days at Colorado, MacIntyre took his time to adapt to life away from his Oban home.
'I think when he first came over, he thought 'I'll move to America and live there while I am playing' but then he realised that wasn't for him,' added Laird. 'He's now got that sorted out and I am not surprised to see him playing this well, especially in the big tournaments.
'There's not really a weakness in his game. He's still young and learning. He's only going to get better.'
With Laird sitting in the middle of the pack in the Nexo Championship, another Scot, Ryan Lumsden, stayed on course for a bumper pay day as he moved into a share of ninth on one-under after a battling 70.
Daniel Young is a shot back on level-par after a 73.
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