Laird, who plays most of his golf in the United States, shares the lead with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber (Carnoustie), Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn (both St Andrews), an assistant-captain for Europe at the Ryder Cup.

BBC: Injured Lee Westwood to play on in Dunhill Links

Doctors have also removed shrapnel from the shoulder of vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara and from the arm of British assistant coach Paul Farbrace.

BBC: Sri Lanka spinner leaves hospital