World Golf News - 29 March 2011

On the US PGA Tour the Arnold Palmer Invitational was won by Martin Laird of Scotland. In a surprise victory that followed a rather shaky start on the final day, Laird made a successful charge for the trophy on Sunday beating local favourite Steve Marino by just one stroke to win. In beautiful spring weather at Palmer’s own Bay Hill Club near Orlando, Laird and Marino kept fans guessing who would win the tournament with a display of competitive spirit and precision golf that provided an entertaining final round.

After a string of bogeys that extended all the way to the eleventh hole, Laird regained his composure and unleashed a series of birdies that brought him into contention. After leading the tournament earlier in the final round, Marino ran into trouble on the back nine including a double bogey at the seventeenth – with one hole to go the trophy was in the balance. Needing only par to win, Laird nonetheless made work for himself with a long putt but finished the tournament victorious and lifted the trophy as the winner.

In Europe the Andalucia Open was won by former British Open champion Paul Lawrie. In his first win in almost a decade, the Scotsman carefully crafted his path to victory on Sunday. Lawrie finished twelve under par and one stroke ahead of his nearest rival, Johan Edfors of Sweden, maintaining par for the final round and lifting a trophy for the first time in nine years.

In women’s golf the LPGA Kia Classic was won by Germany’s Sandra Gal. In an exciting final round competition between Gal and world number two Jiyai Shin, it was the German who emerged victorious when she sank several difficult putts to claim victory. Shin was having problems on the green and several missed putts put her out of contention by the final three holes.