Late surge not enough for Laird at Sawgrass

Laird came close to pulling off a stunning victory at the Players Championship after starting the final day six behind.

But a bogey on the last by the 29-year-old Glaswegian for a round of 67 left Kuchar two in front with four holes to play and the world No 16 did not let things slip.

A two-under-par round of 70 gave Kuchar the first prize of £1,063,000 by two strokes on 13 under par.

Lee Westwood has taken on Australian Mike Waite – known as “Sponge” – to act as his stand-in caddie while Billy Foster recovers from the knee injury suffered in a football kickabout two weeks ago.

With Yorkshireman Foster possibly out for six months, England’s world No 3 used American Cayce Kerr over the last two weeks, but will start working with Waite in next week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Teenager Matthew Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) and Richard Law (Low Laithes) led the way with two points from two matches as Yorkshire began their Northern Counties season with a convincing victory over Cheshire at Wallesey.