Laird wins a cool $756,000 at the Shriners PGA event in Las Vegas:
Martin Laird wins Shriners event in playoff
Detroit News wire services
Las Vegas -- The higher the stakes, the calmer Martin
Laird won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children
Laird closed with a 3-under-par 68 to match McNeill (67) and Chad
"I don't know whether it was because I had a nice long par on 18 to get into the playoff," Laird said. "But when I got into the playoff I was surprised; I kind of chilled out a little. I was pretty nervous the last two or three holes in regulation, and once I got there in the playoff I kind of relaxed a little more.
"And when I stood up there on the first playoff hole and struck the ball down the middle, it was the perfect way to start the playoff."
Laird, a former Colorado State player, earned $756,000 and a two-your Tour exemption for the victory at TPC Summerlin in his 53rd tour start. He jumped from 134th to 62nd on the money list with $1,271,254.
Laird holed an 11-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for the victory after McNeill, the 2007 winner, hit his approach near the greenside water hazard, then lipped out an 18-foot par putt.
Campbell dropped out with a bogey on the par-3 17th.
"I didn't play that well today," Campbell said. "I was able to hang around and make some putts and make some birdies to get myself into the playoff. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it done."
Laird took the lead from Campbell and Furyk at 19 under with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. Laird parred the next six holes before birdieing the par-5 16th to reach 20 under, then dropped back with a bogey on 17.
McNeill birdied the 18th to join Laird and Campbell at 19 under, and Campbell and Laird then closed with pars to set up the playoff.
The three players opened the playoff with pars on No. 18, and Laird and McNeill advanced with pars on No. 17, while Campbell dropped out with his bogey.
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