LRTO: Laird has true up-and-down game

RENO - Scotland's Martin Laird had what you would call a true up-and-down third round Saturday at the 11th annual Legends Reno Tahoe Open at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Laird went the final 11 holes without a par, yet still managed a 6-under 66 and a 54-hole total of 205 which puts him in fourth place entering today's final round.

Laird had a strange back nine. He shot a 32, but didn't have a single par. He went bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle.

The eagle on 18 was impressive. He was 88 yards out after a tremendous 341-yard drive. Laird lofted a wedge 20-feet past the hole and watched as the ball sucked all the way back into the cup. It capped a 4-under run on the last three holes.

"I knew it had a chance to be close because I hit it good," Laird said. 'I knew it was going to spin back. Then the crowd was getting louder and louder as the ball was getting closer to the hole. I knew I had a chance and it was nice to see it disappear.

"I don't know if I would say a solid round. It was pretty up and down for the first six, seven holes. And then I don't make a par on my last 11. I had a bunch of bad bogeys, but I also finished birdie, birdie, birdie and eagle.

Laird finished with eight birdies, an eagle and four bogeys.

The 66 has put him in contention, and he would like nothing better than to get a win today.

"It would mean everything to me, obviously," Laird said. "I really like this course. I finished fourth here last year. I love the setup; a lot of good holes for me to play.

THINKING ON HIS FEET

Ryan Palmer's tee shot went right on the par-4 15th, landing just off the cart path. The only spot to drop no closer to the hole would have been to drop deeper in the weeds.

"I blocked a driver," Palmer said. "It was about six inches off the path. I had a swing, but in golf shoes ... I called an official over and told him I'd like to wear my caddie's shoes. I hit a great shot so it worked out perfectly. I used the rules to my advantage."

TOUGHEST, EASIEST HOLES

There were 14 rounds below 70 on Saturday, 41 rounds below par and 45 at even par or better. There were 28 over-par rounds.

The toughest hole on Saturday was the par-4 14th, which played to a 4.370 average. The hole yielded just four birdies, 25 bogeys, one double bogey and one triple bogey. The second-toughest was the par-4 8th, which played to a 4.288. There were nine birdies, 18 bogeys and six double bogeys.

The easiest hole Saturday was the par-5 11th, which played to a 4.603. There were 29 birdies and only four bogeys. The next-easiest hole was the par-5 4th which played to a 4.671. There were four eagles, 25 birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys.

CHIP SHOTS

Rocco Mediate said he didn't know why Montreux officials are watering the greens so much. He said they need to keep the water off, which would it a much harder golf course, especially when it comes to holding approach shots ... Rookie Spencer Levin, who played two solid rounds, soared to a 4-over 76. He shot a 41 on the front, including double-bogeys at the par-5 fourth and the par-4 eighth. Levin was No. 127 on the money list, and he needs to make the top 125 to retain his card ... Bily Mayfair had the low-round of the day with an 8-under 64. He's tied for ninth place ... Mediate needs to win to qualify for next week's PGA Championship ... Marc Leishman recorded just the second eagle in tournament history on the sixth hole, putting in a shot from 144 yards ... Kevin Na, who is tied for ninth place at 208, is shooting for his eighth straight top-10.

TODAY'S ACTION

Carlos Franco, who will be playing by himself, starts action today at 8:24 a.m. The final pairing of John Rollins and Palmer tee off at 1:45 p.m. The Golf Channel broadcast will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m.