Scotland’s top-ranked Marc Warren bounced straight back from missing cut in last week’s Porsche European Open with a superb four under par 68 at Carnoustie on day one of the Afred Dunhill Links Championship here in Scotland

Warren had looked a lone figure last week on the Bad Griesbach practice range but that time on the range paid dividends on a glorious ‘South of Spain’ like day in County Angus.

The current World No. 56 posted a four under par 68 to be trailing just four shots behind the trio of Sweden’s Kriss Brodberg and the 2015 winning GB & I Walker Cup winning pair and rookie professional Paul Dunne of Ireland and Jimmy Mullen of England.

Dunne, who shared the lead in July’s Open Championship with a round to play, took just 21 strokes to record his first ace in the play-for-pay game.

Warren was at Carnoustie and delighting a good Thursday crowd with a round that included an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys.

Marc Warren getting five to seven more yards using the new Callaway ‘Big Bertha’ driver.

“I remained in Germany on purpose last weekend given I had four weeks off and just felt I wasn’t quite settled. I didn’t hit that bad last week but it was more just my wedge distances were a bit rusty,” said the Scot.

“I just felt I dropped a few silly shots and inside of making pars I was making double bogeys and I had six double bogeys and that was unusual for me.   But then I determined to four weeks where I was totally rested and ready to go.

“However putting that work in last weekend in Germany, and after missing the cut, was really beneficial as the practice facilities were great out at Bad Griesbach.

“But has been significant is that I changed this week to the new Callaway Big Bertha driver and new Chrome soft ball and that’s made a huge difference.  I have been testing the driver for a little while but now that it’s in the bag and on ‘Trackman’ it is going 5 to 7 yards longer off the tee.

“So the combination of a new driver and a new ball was very much why I felt so comfortable out there today as opposed to last week that I put down to just a little rust in my game from having a good period off.”