´óÏó´«Ã½

The best place to get over a disappointment is at home.

And that's exactly where Martin Laird is now planning to go.

After missing the cut at the US Open the Glaswegian flies back to Scotland ahead of playing his favourite tournament, the Scottish Open.

Before he returns though, the 28-year-old has "a lot of work to do".

Laird has admitted that he arrived for the season's second major at the Congressional Country Club badly under-cooked.

"You can't turn up at a US Open without practising," he explained.

"I've not really practised in the last month, with lots of off-the-course commitments. I missed the cut at Memorial, so I hadn't played since Friday the previous week."

Sportsmen and women can be guilty of going through the motions when interviewed, especially after performing poorly, so it made a refreshing change to hear Laird assess his display so frankly.

And Laird will be disappointed with how his US Open went after arriving at Congressional with a certain amount of expectation surrounding him.

This is his best season to date with $2.3m in earnings so far, the bulk of which coming from his second PGA Tour win, the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The following week at the Masters he finished inside the top 20, playing with Tiger Woods in the final round. It all helped push Laird inside the world's top 25.

But, after Congressional, that is all in the past and now that "hard work" begins.

"My coach and I are going to get together next week and work hard," said Laird.

"I've got a tournament next week and then I have a week off before heading for the Scottish. I am looking forward to that obviously. I'm glad I've got a couple of weeks until then to get it sorted out."

Perhaps this is the best time for Laird to suffer a set-back. His fondness for the Scottish Open will mean he travels to Castle Stuart from his Arizona base in a relaxed frame of mind.

"Playing in front of the home crowds is always special," he added. "It is pretty much my favourite tournament of the year. To come back and see friends and family and get to play in front of a home crowd - it doesn't really get any better."

Going home can do wonders for a golfing recovery.

Just ask Rory McIlroy. He returned quickly to Holywood in Belfast after missing the cut at last year's US Open.

Hasn't done him any harm, has it?

Follow the Scottish Open from 7-10 July on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Scotland 92-95 FM and 810 MW and online.