Sports

Laird bags Texas Open to get into Masters

Martin Laird earned a ticket to the Masters, tying the course record with a 9-under par 63 to hold off Rory McIlroy at the Texas Open yesterday in San Antonio.

Laird began the day four shots behind leader Billy Horschel, but posted a bogey-free round to finish 14 under overall and earn the third win of his career, his first since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2011. The Scottish golfer entered the week having missed four of eight cuts this year.

McIlroy, the world’s No. 2, began the day at 6-under before posting a 66 to finish two shots back and finish second — his best finish of the year.

“I think over the last three rounds I eliminated the stupid mistakes and mental errors,’’ McIlroy said. “To finish this tournament with a round like today is great going into Augusta.’’

Horschel shot a 1-under 71 to finish in a tie for third with Jim Furyk and Charley Hoffman.

Furyk eagled the par-5 18th from 104 yards out to jump into third. The former U.S. Open winner had only four holes of practice on the Greg Norman-designed Course at TPC on Wednesday before rain washed him out, but he posted a final-round 69 to close out a steady week.

Horschel, who led after the second and third rounds, was unable to match the low rounds of his competitors and finished with a 1-under 71. The Florida native, who was second at last week’s Houston Open, was seeking his first PGA Tour win.

Park wins Nabisco title

Inbee Park doubled her lead to six strokes on the opening hole and ran away with the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., for her second major title.

The 24-year-old South Korean player made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 first, while playing partner Lizette Salas had a double bogey for a three-stroke swing. Park closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 15 under, four strokes ahead of So Yeon Ryu at Mission Hills.

Park celebrated the victory with the traditional leap into Poppie’s Pond, and jumped from fourth to second in the world with her fifth LPGA Tour title and ninth worldwide win. South Korean players have won three straight majors and Asians have won eight in a row.