Laird calmly goes about business at Bay Hill ahead of Masters tilt

But his victory at the Bay Hill Invitational on Sunday – his second on the PGA Tour – has thrust him into the spotlight.

It was a win that moved him up to 21st in the world rankings, and with a debut at The Masters looming next week, the 28-year-old is planning on climbing even higher.

Laird played a practice round at Augusta two weeks ago and said yesterday: “Loved the golf course. I feel like it sets up pretty good for me with hitting it high.

“And I know those greens will get real firm (like Bay Hill). Putting is probably the strongest part of my game right now and that’s really what it all comes down to coming down the stretch at Augusta.”

Laird’s victory was the 11th by a European golfer on the PGA Tour since May last year.

n Defending Northern Counties champions Yorkshire warmed up for the start of the defence of their title on May 7 with a comfortable 14.5-3.5 victory over Derbyshire at Shirland. They continue their preparations against Lincolnshire at Hull on Saturday.

n One of two regional finals for the national Matchplay Championship takes place at Hollins Hall next Monday.

Fifty teams of northern amateurs, split into a mens and mixed section, battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals which will be held in Dubai and shown on Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, entries for the Northern Matchplay Championship are being taken until Thursday. The season-long competition is split into six regions with golfers in Yorkshire looking to qualify for a regional showdown at Pannal before a two-day grand final at Alwoodley.