Marc Warren brilliantly birdied his opening six holes in an eventual equal career best score of 63 to seize a one stroke lead on the opening day of the Portugal Masters on the Oceanico Victoria course at Vilamoura.
Warren celebrated the first tournament to be played on an Arnold Palmer designed course, since the passing of ‘The King’, with nine birdies and just a lone bogey in his eight under par tally
The Glaswegian’s score matched two previous scores of 63 in the Scot’s 11-years full-time on the European Tour.
Five players – American David Lipsky, Finland’s Mikko Korhonen and the England trio of Callum Shinkwin, Matthew Baldwin and Eddie Pepperell – shared second place on seven under par.
Another six are at six under while the Open Championship winning duo of Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington are among 10 players at five under par.
Warren believes he’s had such a run of birdies before in his career but not six in succession from the very first hole.
Marc Warren sizzles shooting a career equalling lowest round. (Photo – European Tour)
“I think I’ve had six or seven in a row but never at the start of the round,” he said. “It’s absolute perfect start. Everything was going right for me, just the right numbers and landing it close and a couple of tap-ins.
“So it was a great start.”
Three weeks ago, Warren was struggling well outside of the top-111 who this year will retain their Tour card before a sterling fifth place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links that took Warren to 70th on the Race to Dubai.
The 35-year old then picked up three spots to go to 67th following a T22dn result at the British Masters.
Now Warren put himself not only in frame to break into the top-60 on the money list and a place in the Tour’s season-ending Final Series but also the chance of a fourth victory toast.
“The Final Series is a nice goal to have because a few weeks ago I was playing to get inside the 110 and managed to take care of that a few weeks ago,” he said.
“It’s nice to go looking forward as opposed to looking over your shoulder and standing me in good stead at this point in time.”
Lawrie was six under after 10 holes that included holing his second shot for eagle at the par four, fourth hole ahead posting his 66.
Stephen Gallacher was five under par through 14 holes in scoring a four under par 67 while David Drysdale and Scott Jamieson signed for two under par 69s.
Biggest disappointment was Stirling’s Craig Lee who was one-under through 13 holes but bogeyed three of his closing four holes in a two over par 73 to be sharing 107th place.
All but a dozen players in the 126-player field are behind Lee on the money list as he strives to wrap-up his Tour card.
And the Tour advises that the cut-off mark on Sunday night in retaining full 2017 Tour membership will be 111th on the Race Dubai, and with Lee teeing up on The Algarve in 109th place.
