Marc Warren is fighting a 5,000 mile maiden Masters invitation battle front heading to the weekend rounds of the Valero Texas Open.
Not only is Warren fighting those also competing in the famed Alamo City but he’s keeping an eye on events in far off Agadir in Morocco and venue for the Hassan 11 Trophy.
Warren needs to finish top-18 in his first his first PGA Tour event but then there is still as many as four colleagues competing in Morocco who could go past him on the World Rankings.
The current World No. 52 defended well in San Antonio finishing his round in the very last group of the day and despite three three-putts in his round Warren holed a testy six foot birdie putt at his penultimate hole in a second straight round of 74 for a four over par tally.
“I am pleased to get through to the weekend as it was another tough day out there on top of what was a very tough day yesterday (Thursday),” he said.
Marc Warren sporting Aberdeen Assert Management sponsor on his shirt for a first time this week keeps his Masters dream alive with two rounds of 74. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I just seemed to struggle all day today with my ball-striking and while I wasn’t too bad off the tee, my iron play wasn’t as sharp.
“So it was a real struggle all day and clearly a battle to be here for the weekend.
“It was a very important birdie on the eighth or my 17th so that was great to see the ball drop there.
“Also the greens are drying out and getting very firm and quick and I just found it tough to adjust and that’s why I found myself having a couple of three putts.
“But I have accomplished one goal and that was to make the cut and we’ll see where that leads me now.
“Hopefully, that will be to Augusta but if not I won’t be disappointed as I am more concerned on qualifying for the WGC – Match-Play Championship in May in San Francisco.
“So I would be more disappointed missing out on that event than if I were not to get an invitation to the Masters.”
It left the Scot in the $US 6.2m event just 10 shots behind Texan Jimmy Walker who birdied three of his closing four holes in a five under par 67 to lead by a shot at six under par.
Australia’s Aaron Baddeley (71) shares second place with Charley Hoffman (72) and while Walker and Hoffman have qualified for the Masters, Baddeley at No. 259 in the world, would join them if he were to win in Texas.
As well, Warren will be keeping an eye on the player immediately behind him on the World Rankings and that’s the 53rd ranked Harris English also competing in Texas and who needs to finish top-10 to earn a Masters invitation.
However there was some good news for Warren at the expense of Frenchman Alex Levy, and ranked 54th in the world, who missed the cut in Morocco.
And while Warren will face an anxious weekend double Masters winning Phil Mickelson was struggling to find his voice after rounds of 70 and 72 for a clubhouse share of sixth place at two under par.
The 34-year old Walker is looking to capture a second Tour title this season after clinching January’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
And while Warren looks to qualify for the Masters Walker will be making a second appearance and a lot more comfortable with the scenario despite finishing in a share of eighth place on debut.
“I’m really looking forward to going back to Augusta and I’m going up there early next week, and play one or two practice rounds,” he said.
“Last year was my first time and everything about the course and the tournament lived up to what I wanted it to be.”
Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner, agreed to just one interview after round and saying: “I did do a good job of staying focused considering losing my voice.”
Warren’s fellow Scots Martin Laird and Russell Knox were also among the late finishers on day two.
Laird, and winner of the event in 2013, was one under par for his round and at three over par in tally very late into his round.
Knox’s chances of competing in the Masters for a first time ended with scores of 78 and 73 to miss the expected cut off of six over par.
