Martin Laird stormed back from disaster at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to claim his second PGA Tour title.
He managed to hold off a late surge from Steve Marino, despite carding +3 (75) on his final round at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.
Laird became Scotland’s second winner of the weekend, following Paul Lawrie’s victory in the Open de Andalucia.
He also has the distinction of being the first European to lift the Bay Hill crown, adding it to the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open he won in 2009.
And after ten years of playing in the US, due to his golf scholarship at Colorado State University, Laird now hopes to qualify for Jose Maria Olazabal’s Ryder Cup team.
They will defend their title at the Medinah Country Club, Illinois in 2012.
Laird started the day with a two shot lead over playing partner, and first-round leader, Spencer Levin.
A fantastic second round saw him hole six birdies and an eagle to post -7 (65) for the day and give him the lead at the halfway stage.
He kept his nose in front with a steady -2 (70) on his third round to keep his dream alive.
But it looked like Laird had blown his chance after finding the drink on the 11th during his final round.
That eventual double-bogey left him five over par and struggling.
He had seen his advantage eroded by Marino and at that point, the American had usurped the top spot and held a three stroke lead.
Laird produced an excellent response to birdie the 12th to move back to within two shots.
However, he once again dropped a shot on the 14th, which restored Marino’s three stroke cushion.
Marino then bogeyed the 15th and Laird took full advantage and birdied the 15th and 16th to tie things up at the top of the leaderboard with two holes remaining.
Calamity struck for Marino on the par 3 17th when he three-putted horribly to double-bogey.
It proved to be his downfall, and even a birdie on the last hole was not enough for the American to stop Laird from claiming victory in Orlando.
The Scotsman has finished in the top 25 of every event he has played so far this year and moves up to number 21 in the world rankings.
“That was a hell of a day,” said Laird.
“I don’t know if I was nervous, I thought in the morning that I've let a few tournaments go and I came out today and I wasn't joking around, this was going to be my tournament to win and I felt comfortable.
"I never thought about not winning, and at three down I didn't have a choice, I had to make birdies.
“Steve was playing so well and he wasn't going to drop all the way back to where I was.
“That was a tough fight out there. It was a battle, but it makes it even sweeter at the end when I got this trophy."
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