Ahead on Points

DA Points has taken the clubhouse lead midway through the first round of the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale.
DA Points has taken the clubhouse lead midway through the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona today (Thursday) but last week’s Scottish surprise package Martin Laird continued his run of good form and isn’t too far behind.
American Points, the 32-year-old world number 183, made six birdies in his five-under-par 65 – while six players had completed their rounds in 66 including Canadian Stephen Ames.
Laird, who won his maiden PGA Tour event in Las Vegas last weekend, was the leading European after his 67 – which featured an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys and put him just two off the pace.
The 26-year-old Glaswegian, who played golf for Colorado State University before turning professional in 2004, was in familiar surroundings on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale – where he has been based since 2005.
He celebrated the two-year tour exemption garnered via victory in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with successive birdies in the opening two holes.
Laird bogeyed the third, but immediately recovered with a three at the fourth. He dropped a further shot at the seventh to reach the turn in one-under 34.
An eagle three at the par-five 11th pushed Laird to three under, and he parred the remaining holes to sit two strokes adrift of the clubhouse lead.
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