Marc Warren upstaged playing partner Ian Poulter by nine shots in drawing off the confidence displayed by the victorious Ryder Cup winning hero on day three of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Warren recorded five birdies in his round including a 35-foot gem at the 17th and then superbly putted from some 60-feet at the last in a round of 68 to move inside the top-25 at one under par.
In contrast, Poulter double bogeyed two of his closing four holes in a round of 77 to tumble near the tail of the field on eight over par and just one fewer than Scot Stephen Gallacher (76).
Warren is contesting his first-ever PGA Championship and while many would be surprised with his efforts the 32-year has felt right at home on the Donald Ross designed course.
Marc Warren draws on the confidence displayed by Ian Poulter to upstage the 2012 Ryder Cup hero by nine shots on day three of the 95th PGA Championship. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I just felt I was trying a little too hard to be perfect with my swing the first day but I managed to settle down after that and Friday’s round was one of the best tee-to-green all week,” said Warren.
“So it was a good 67 and then to back that up today with a 68 is very pleasing.
“The wind make the conditions a little tougher because when we played in the rain yesterday there was no rain to speak of and that made clubbing a bit easier.
“But the atmosphere out there was incredible as the crowd where shouting out Ian’s name on every tee and on every shot he played.
“I’ve spent some time practicing with him at Lake Nona but it’s the first time I’ve ever played with him and it was great experience.
“But then his confidence is pretty infectious and even if he might hit a wayward shot he’s still very pumped, and I found myself drawing on the confidence he was displaying.
“He didn’t have one of his better days today but he will always walk with his head held high and that’s something I can draw on.”
As while Poulter and Warren shook hands on the 18th green, the ‘Hero of Medinah’ gave Warren a pat on the back outside the Scorer’s Hut again wishing the Scot well for the final round.
Also continuing to upstage some of his more fancied rivals this week is fellow Glaswegian Scott Jamieson and competing also in his first PGA Championship.
Jamieson ended his round of a one over par tally in a clubhouse share of 30th place in a round of a level par 70 that included three birdies including holing a 20-foot bunker shot at his second hole.
“The bunker shot at the second was a great way to start my round and while I managed to also birdie seven it was a little disappointing to play the back nine in two over including three-putting the 14th when I was standing over an 11-foot putt for birdie,” he said.
Scott had ended his second round at 7.20pm local time, and bringing in the flagsticks given he was in the very last group.
But he heads into the final day having ended his round with a clubhouse share of 30th place and in only his third Major after two Open Championship appearances including last month’s Muirfield Open.
After such a strong showing on his debut Jamieson is now targeting finishing under par ahead of a week’s break and teeing-up in next fortnight’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
“The goal now is to finish under par for the tournament and that would be a great reward in my first PGA Championship,” he said.
“When I came here nearly a week ago this environment was all very new to me but now that I’ve had a good taste of it, it will be great to finish off strongly.”
Prior to this week Jamieson’s only other Stateside tournament was competing earlier this year in the WGC – Cadillac Championship where he finished in a share of 23rd place.
Gallacher had just one birdie in his round, at the 13th hole that was sandwiched among seven bogeys.
And while naturally disappointed to have slipped to a share of third last at nine over par he just missed out playing the final round alongside Open Champion, Phil Mickelson who carded a round of 78 for a 10-over par total.
Mickelson will be out in the very first group today alongside fellow American Gary Woodland (80) who is at 13-over par.
