Martin Laird

Laird wasn't a name you saw at the top of leaderboards often last season with just one top-10 result - a solo third at the alternate event Barracuda Championship. Statisically he struck the ball well, however, ranking 30th in strokes-gained tee-to-green but for a third straight year was held back by his putter. He's due for some more top-10 results next season.

Laird picked up his fourth career PGA Tour win at the Shriners Open early in the season, but he didn't have much to show for after that. That was his only other top-20 in 27 total starts. Laird ended the season outside the top 150 in scoring average, so it's hard to feel too optimistic about his prospects for the 2021-22 campaign.

Laird was in the top-125 category last season but played in only 12 events - and never returned after the restart. It was not known why. He made seven cuts and had one top-25, a tie for sixth at the oppo Puerto Rico Open. Presumably, he will play more this season.

Laird's prospects as a salary cap selection are a thing of the past as he just doesn't have the upside that he once had. He's remained productive over the past six seasons, but he's topped $1.5 million in earnings just once in that span. Laird will likely find himself in the same spot this season as last season ... fighting for a spot inside the top-125. As such, there's no reason to consider him in salary cap leagues.

It might come as a surprise to learn that Laird is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour. This problem is, his last win came in 2013. That win came near the end of a very nice run on the PGA Tour, which saw Laird top the $2 million mark in three of four seasons. In the years since that run, Laird has spent most of his time right around the $1 million mark. That's exactly where he ended last season, which obviously makes him a poor salary cap selection this season.

Laird amassed four top-10s before the end of February last season, but he only managed one top-10 after that. Laird's only top-3 came at the Quicken Loans National in July, yet combined with his four other top-10s, he was able to get within striking distance of the $2 million mark. Laird is only 34, so he has plenty of good years left in him, but it looks like his peak years are in the past. As such, he's not a great salary cap option this season.

Laird was quick to make a splash on the PGA Tour when he first joined in 2008. He picked-up his first win in 2009 and followed that up with wins in 2011 and 2013. European Tour golfers don't often acclimate well to the PGA Tour, so what Laird accomplished early-on is very impressive. That was then however and over the past three seasons, he seems to have lost some juice. His highest earnings number in the past three seasons came last year, but it was only $1.2 million. With Laird the question is whether or not he can get back to his previous highs. Since it's been four years since he cracked the $2 million mark, it's probably wise to pass on him in salary cap formats this season. In drafts, he should go near the eighth or ninth round.

Laird's game went off the rails last year and there's really no explaining it, but if his previous four seasons tell us anything, it's that he'll be back. Laird is fully exempt for the upcoming season because of his win at the Valero Texas Open. He did regress the previous season as well, but still managed to earn over $1.7 million. Expect Laird to at least get back to that level this season. As such, he's a "must-have" in salary cap leagues this year.

Laird was a one-hit-wonder in 2013, picking up most of his earnings at one event, the Valero Texas Open. That win came as a surprise as he wasn't playing too well coming in and he didn't play very well after that week as well. All of that makes him a risky pick in salary cap leagues. In draft leagues he should go in the 50-60 range.

Laird is a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, but last season he failed to crack the winner's circle. He did, however, pick up two runner-up finishes, one of which came at the Players Championship. After that runner-up finish his play was unspectacular, failing to earn a single top-10 the remainder of the season. Laird is a solid player and worth a look at this price, but his upside might be limited. In draft leagues, Laird should go in the fourth or fifth round.

Laird continued his steady progression last season as he improved on his prior-year earnings by about $500K. The improvement resulted in career-high earnings. That he improved last season was no surprise. In fact, Laird has improved his earnings by at least $500k each season since his rookie year on the PGA Tour in 2008. Can he jump another $500K, though? That's a tough question. It' one thing to improve from $800K or even $1.3 million, but Laird posted a pretty hefty number last season. One reason that Laird could see another bump in earnings is his scoring average. In the previous three years, Laird was able to shave only a small fraction off his season average, but last year he improved by nearly three-quarters off a stroke. Laird is one of the exceptions in the high-priced range, a player capable of significantly improving his number this season. He should be considered early in the third round of draft leagues.

Laird was a hit-or-miss player in 2010, and for most of the season he missed badly. Laird started the season well with a fourth-place showing in his first event, but it wasn't until late May that he carded his next top-10. It didn't get much better after May, either, as he earned only one top-25 the next three months of the season. His fortunes turned around in late August, however, as he posted a runner-up performance at the Barclays. He backed that up about a month later with another runner-up finish at the JT Shriners Hospital event in October. Laird's track record of performing well mostly in autumn is a little troubling. Laird is consistently among the best on the PGA TOUR in driving distance and eagles-per-hole average, but it would be wise to pass on him until he plays better during the heart of the PGA TOUR season.

Laird made 20-of-29 cuts in his rookie season of 2008, but he played the weekend in just 12-of 24 events last season. Still, Laird nearly doubled his earnings thanks to a win near the end of the season. Is that win a sign of things to come or is the bulk of his 2009 a better indicator? Laird's numbers suggest he won't go up from here, so don't expect surprising production from him in 2010.