Martin Laird Bio
Martin Charles Campbell Laird (born 29 December 1982) is a Scottish professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Standing 188 cm tall, he has built a reputation as a long hitter and has won four PGA Tour events during his career. Until Russell Knox earned his PGA Tour card via the 2011 Nationwide Tour, Laird was the only Scottish player competing regularly on American soil. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife Meagan Franks.
Early Life and Background
Martin Charles Campbell Laird was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1982. He was introduced to golf at an early age, playing his junior golf at Kirkintilloch Golf Club before moving to the youth setup at Hilton Park Golf Club. Interestingly, Laird first learned to play the game left-handed before eventually switching to a right-handed swing, a change that helped shape his future career path.
His family background includes sporting heritage beyond golf. His cousin, David Weatherston, is a Scottish professional football player, a connection that highlights the athletic tradition within the Laird family. Growing up in Scotland provided the young Laird with ready access to historic golf courses and a strong national golfing culture, both of which helped nurture his early ambitions.
Path to Professional Golf
In 2000, at the age of 17, Laird moved to the United States with the assistance of College Prospects of America. He took up a golf scholarship at Colorado State University, where he played for the Colorado State Rams in the Mountain West Conference, which had been established in 1999. Playing for four seasons from 2000-01 to 2003-04, he won four individual college titles, including the Mountain West Conference Men’s Golf Championship in 2002, the El Diablo Intercollegiate in 2003, the Ping Golf Cougar Classic in 2003, and the Border Olympics in 2004. He was selected as an All Mountain West Conference performer in each of his final three seasons.
Laird graduated from Colorado State University in 2004 with a degree in marketing. In recognition of his college achievements, he was named to the Mountain West Men’s Golf 10th Anniversary Team in 2009. That same year, he turned professional, winning his second tournament, the 2004 Denver Open, and qualifying for the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School, which gave him conditional status on the Nationwide Tour for 2005.
Martin Laird Career
Early Career (2004-2007)
Laird’s first full year on the Nationwide Tour came in 2005, but he had limited success, posting a best finish of tied 18th in 19 events. The following year, he won the San Juan Open and a Gateway Tour event at The Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa in Arizona, which helped him earn full status on the Nationwide Tour for 2007.
In 2007, Laird played 27 Nationwide Tour events and won the Athens Regional Foundation Classic in April. He finished the season tied for third at the Nationwide Tour Championship, and his total earnings of $252,679 placed him 13th on the money list, earning him his PGA Tour card for 2008. That year, he also qualified for his first major, the 2007 U.S. Open, though he missed the cut.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2008-2011)
Laird joined the PGA Tour full-time in 2008 and battled to keep his card, finishing 125th on the money list after a tense finish at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. In 2009, he broke through with a win at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, defeating two opponents in a three-man playoff to claim his first PGA Tour title. The win earned him $756,000 and made him the first Scottish player to win a PGA Tour event in America since Sandy Lyle at the 1988 Masters, and the first to win any PGA Tour event since Paul Lawrie’s 1999 Open Championship triumph.
Laird continued his ascent in 2010, finishing second at The Barclays after losing a playoff to Matt Kuchar. He also tied for second at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open before the title was decided by Jonathan Byrd’s historic hole-in-one on the fourth playoff hole. In 2011, Laird captured the biggest win of his career at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he became the first European to win that event. He finished the year ranked 47th in the world.
Earlier in 2011, Laird also qualified for his first Masters Tournament, where he tied for 20th, his best finish in a major championship. He also finished runner-up at the 2012 Players Championship, two strokes behind Matt Kuchar, confirming his place among the tour’s consistent performers.
Later Career (2013-2020)
On 7 April 2013, Laird won his third PGA Tour title at the Valero Texas Open, finishing two strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy. He fired a nine-under-par 63 in the final round, including birdies at his last three holes, to overtake overnight leader Billy Horschel. The win made Laird the final qualifier for the 2013 Masters Tournament and ended a streak of 16 consecutive American winners on the PGA Tour.
In October 2020, Laird won the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open for the second time in his career, defeating Matthew Wolff and Austin Cook in a playoff with a birdie on the second extra hole. The victory was his fourth PGA Tour title and reinforced his reputation as a clutch performer in Las Vegas.
Driving Style and Strengths
Laird is recognized as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, ranking in the top 20 in average driving distance in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He is currently coached by Mark McCann, having previously worked with Randy Smith, and his aggressive style off the tee has been a defining feature of his game throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Laird’s most memorable moments are his 2009 Shriners Hospitals win, which ended a two-decade Scottish drought on the PGA Tour, his 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational triumph, where he became the first European winner of the event, and his 2013 Valero Texas Open victory that snapped a long run of American winners. He holds a 2-2 record in PGA Tour playoffs.
Martin Laird Career Wins
Martin Laird has accumulated eight professional wins across multiple tours. His most significant victories have come on the PGA Tour, where he has claimed four titles. He also won once on the Nationwide Tour and recorded two Gateway Tour wins during his development years.
PGA Tour Highlights
Laird’s four PGA Tour victories are the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, the 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational, the 2013 Valero Texas Open, and the 2020 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. His first PGA Tour win came in 2009 in Las Vegas, while his most recent came in the same city in 2020. His 2011 win at Bay Hill remains his most prestigious title.
Other Wins and Performances
On the Nationwide Tour, Laird won the 2007 Athens Regional Foundation Classic. He also won the 2006 San Juan Open and a Gateway Tour event at The Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa. In college, he secured four individual titles for the Colorado State Rams between 2002 and 2004.
Martin Laird Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
While Laird’s family is best known in the world of golf, his cousin David Weatherston is a Scottish professional football player, indicating a broader athletic tradition in the family. Laird’s own sporting path, however, led him across the Atlantic to pursue a scholarship at Colorado State University, where he developed into a professional golfer.
Personal Life
Martin Laird married Meagan Franks on 31 July 2011. She is from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and is the daughter of golf professional Hank Franks. The couple later settled in Scottsdale, Arizona. Laird stands 188 cm tall and weighs 86 kg, attributes that have helped him generate his notable power off the tee.
2025 Season Performance
As of 2025, Martin Laird continues to compete on the PGA Tour, drawing on more than two decades of professional experience. With his most recent victory coming at the 2020 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Laird has been working to recapture the form that earned him four PGA Tour titles and a personal-best world ranking of 21 in 2011.
Throughout his career, Laird has built a reputation for strong play in Las Vegas, where he has won twice at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. His long-hitting style and playoff experience, with a 2-2 record in PGA Tour playoffs, remain assets as he navigates the 2025 schedule.
Coached by Mark McCann and based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Laird enters the 2025 season as a respected veteran of the PGA Tour. His ability to qualify for major championships, including his tied 20th finish at the 2011 Masters, demonstrates the consistency he continues to bring to the game.