Marc Warren was left agonizing over missing a 15-foot birdie putt at Oak Hill’s final green that would have handed the Scot a place in this week’s PGA Tour Wyndham Championship.
Warren was met by a PGA Tour official straight after signing for a 69 and a two under par in his maiden PGA Championship appearance.
The Glaswegian finished the leading British-born player and just one shot shy of defending PGA champion, Rory McIlroy.
Warren was naturally delighted with his efforts in suburban Rochester but then disappointed to learn a top-10 would have guaranteed him an extra week in the States and competing in Greensboro, South Carolina and a maiden PGA Tour showing.
“I am very delighted as my practice went great for me and while I was really frustrated on Thursday night, I just felt I was trying to be too perfect with the golf swing and I paid the price,” he said.
The PGA Tour’s Mark Williams speaks with Marc Warren after his round about the likelihood of qualifying for the Wyndham Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“But in the last three rounds I got out of my own way and just had one simple feeling and committed to that on every shot.
“So to finish a Major, especially the US PGA, with three rounds in the 60s is very pleasing.
“It was a great atmosphere out there even before the start of the week, and I would definitely have taken the way I played.”
Warren’s final round was a mix of five birdies, including three from the fourth to eighth holes, and four bogeys.
Instead of heading south-east to the Atlantic shoreline Warren, his wife Laura and four-month old son, Archie will cross the Atlantic arriving back into Glasgow later today (MON).
And as Warren stretches out on the trans-Atlantic flight he could be rightfully proud of his achievement.
“I just felt really comfortable and confident with everything I was doing,” he said.
“The last three days felt very stress free which is a little unusual on a golf course as tough as this.
“It has been a great year so far. This is just another step in the right direction. A good finish in a Major is something I have obviously not done before. In the next one, I will want to do even better. It has been a great week.”
