Martin Laird fired a course-record nine-under-par 63 last night to win the Valero Texas Open and earn his way into next weekend’s US Masters.

The Scottish golfer pulled away from nearest challenger Rory McIlroy in the final holes to win by two strokes in sensational fashion.

The Irishman was second on 12-under-par, after a sixunder-par 66 last night in San Antonio.

Padraig Harrington finished seven shots off the lead after a 70 last night, while Shane Lowry – who also carded a final-round 70 – was three shots further back.

Laird picked up shots at the second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, 12th and – incredibly when the heat was on – the final three.

A 30-year-old Scot, he is the first non-American to win on the PGA Tour in 15 events this season.

He began yesterday five shots behind third-round leader Billy Horschel, who tied Jim Furyk and Charley Hoffman for third place at 11-under.

The win is worth $1.12 million to Laird, whose previous successes on the PGA Tour came at the 2009 Shiners Hospitals for Children Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2011.
274 – Martin Laird 70 71 70 63
276 – Rory McIlroy 72 67 71 66.
277 – B Horschel 68 68 70 71; J Furyk 69 70 69 69; C Hoffman 71 67 70 69.
279 – KJ Choi 72 67 72 68.
280 – D Summerhays 69 69 73 69; J Overton69 72 70 69; B Estes 72 69 69 70.
281 – M Flores 71 72 70 68; M Siem 76 67 69 69; Padraig Harrington 68 73 70 70.
282 – RH Lee 74 70 69 69.
283 – D Lynn 72 70 71 70.
284 - K Chappell 75 69 72 68; A Baddeley 74 70 71 69; F Jacobson 70 74 71 69; J Kokrak 74 68 72 70; Shane Lowry 70 72 72 70; DJ Trahan 70 71 71 72.