Scotland’s Marc Warren can count on one hand the number of times he’s competed professionally on American soil.
After having been a member 2001 victorious Walker Cup GB & I side, the now 33-year old Glaswegian is making just his third appearance in a US-based Major and joining three fellow Scots teeing-up in today’s (THUR) commencing 96th PGA Championship.
Again accompanying Warren is his wife, Laura and some 15-month old son, Archie who’s in fact been in attendance at his father’s past three Majors showings, a PGA Championship and the past two Open’s.
A year ago Warren shone in finishing the equal fourth leading European in sharing 12th place at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York so much so he’s excited at his prospects this week in the sauna-like conditions competitors will face this week in suburban Louisville, Kentucky.
“While I was over at college here in America, and I played in the Walker Cup at Sea Island, so far in my career the chances to play in America have been few and far between but when I have done, I feel as though I’ve played okay,” he said.
Marc Warren warming up for only his third US based Major Championship this week at Valhalla. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I’m excited to be back because I feel the courses suit my game a little bit.
“It’s another massive event coming back off two big events – the Scottish Open and The Open – and I’m really looking forward to it.
“There’s a few more run-offs around the greens here at Valhalla as opposed to going straight into heavy rough if you miss the green, so that gives you the chance to use a few different skills around the green and that may suit more of a European style of play.”
Warren’s currently competed in 18 events this season with a recent best of third behind Justin Rose at Royal Aberdeen.
For the purists, Warren’s scoring average this season is 71.42 while by way of comparison Rory McIlroy’s is 69.68 in Europe and 70.3 on the regular PGA Tour.
But while Warren is streets away from being in the same class as the current World No. 1 there’s no questioning his determination that was again very evident at Royal Aberdeen and also on display at Royal Liverpool where he was five under par for the opening three days.
“I felt I took an awful lot from the recent run of events, having timed it perfectly to play well in both the Scottish Open and The Open,
“I didn’t have the weekend I was hoping for in the latter, but there were still a lot of positives.
“On the Saturday at Hoylake, I shot level par to keep myself in a decent position but on the Sunday I felt as though I didn’t putt quite as well – that was the only difference really. It was a bit scrappy over the weekend compared to the Thursday and especially the Friday, when I felt really in control of everything I was doing.
“I was 12th going into Sunday, having felt I’d got the bad round out of the way, and so I was excited going into the last round. It was my first taste of being in that position in The Open but I was in that situation in this event last year and ended up with a better finish.
“So one of my main goals for the rest of the season is to secure one of the exempt spots for next year’s Open.”
Warren begins his quest for the gleaming Rodman Wanamaker Trophy at 9.25am local time (2.25pm UK time) today in the company of the American duo of Russell Henley and David McNabb.
