By Steve Scott, golf correspondent, at Loch Lomond

It could hardly have been better for Martin Laird’s first round of European professional golf as the exiled Scot enjoyed a magnificent homecoming at the Barclays Scottish Open.

The 26-year-old from Glasgow, in his second full year on the US PGA Tour, hadn’t played a competitive round on this side of the Atlantic since 2003, but shot an outstanding 65 to lie one behind the leader, Australia’s Richard Green, after a breezy but free-scoring day at Loch Lomond.

Birdies and eagles flew around with abandon all day but there’s still enough in the testing layout to rein in the field if they try something over-ambitious.

There were also handfuls of doubles and triples around, with the brilliant and fearsome 10th hole proving as torturous as ever.

Nevertheless, Laird negotiated the track he had only previously seen from outside the ropes as a spectator without a single bogey on his card—although with two chip-ins, it was hardly faultless golf from the first-timer—watched by a large family support, many of whom had never seen him play golf before.

Laird was a handy amateur player and a Scotland international, although not regarded of the top rank of his generation, and seemed to vanish when at Colorado State University.

While he was under the radar at home, he started to get noticed in the US, first on mini tours, then on the Nationwide Tour—the PGA Tour’s second division—and qualified for the big circuit from there.

He retained his card narrowly last year, largely thanks to successive good performances in the season-ending FedEx Cup, but hadn’t taken his professional bow in Scotland until yesterday.

“Obviously a dream start for me, it was one of those days and I got bit lucky,” he said afterwards. “A couple of chip-ins, the first of them at my second hole, that helped with the nerves a bit.

“Actually it was more yesterday than today that was killing me—I just couldn’t wait to play and couldn’t sleep last night—but after I had warmed up this morning I was ready to go.”

Playing the front nine as his inward half, Laird finished with birdies at the eighth and ninth for an immediate impact as top Scot in his first Scottish event.

He said, “It’s probably the most fun I’ve had on a golf course for a long time, but as I say I was a bit lucky and it’s a long way until Sunday.

“Because it doesn’t count towards the PGA Tour or the FedEx Cup I’m maybe more relaxed because I’m not concerned about getting points or improving my ranking.

“I think I got the course as good as anyone’s going to get it, and I’m just pleased to be in this position after one round. If I can sharpen up my long irons I can maybe be in position come Sunday.”

Green, who finished third last year, may be one of the prime beneficiaries of Loch Lomond having apparently at last solved the long-standing problem with the marshy nature of the land on which the outstanding layout is built.

“It’s always been a fantastic place, but there was a long period where the course was very wet and very heavy and it just didn’t suit my game,” said the left-handed Australian.

“Last year was the first time I came here and everything seemed to agree with me.”

Green had six birdies and an eagle in his 64 and is known as a streaky player but he feels he is in position to add to his two tour victories.

He added, “There’s been a lot of opportunities presented to me to win, and I haven’t handled the pressure as well as I would like to, but more and more I feel I can do it.

“There’s certain places I feel I can win and I proved at Carnoustie two years ago (when he was one shot out of the Harrington-Garcia play-off) that I can do it and compete with the best in the world.”

Graeme Storm, trimmed by a stone due to a fitness and weights regime he believes will make him stronger, was one of three players sharing second with Laird, the other being the Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and the veteran Irishman Paul McGinley.

McGinley loves coming to Scotland—for the golf, to see his coach Bob Torrance, and to see his beloved Celtic—and very little would please him more than winning here.

“I’m comfortable here, checking into Cameron House and seeing the course, eating at the same places,” he said, adding that he couldn’t see himself missing Loch Lomond to play in the Irish PGA, like his friend and countryman Padraig Harrington now does.

He added, “For me, I can’t afford to miss this when it’s this much money and points at a place I’m familiar with and enjoy.”

McGinley isn’t on the betting list of favourites, however, with the second slot occupied by a rejuvenated Adam Scott, who shot an excellent, bogey-less 66.

The Australian has gone from third in the world to a huge slump in the last year, when his choice of girlfriend got more attention than his golf game.

However, the perennial ladies’ favourite now has the frankly stunning tennis star Ana Ivanovic on his arm and watching him from the galleries, and everything seems to be improving.

“It certainly doesn’t do you any harm when you’re happy in all aspects of your life,” he said.