Marc Warren proudly was heading west to Tampa Bay while a struggling Rory McIlroy is heading north to Augusta National.
McIlroy brought the crowd to their feet in chipping in for double bogey at the final hole in a round of 72 for an expected share of ninth place on the final day of the WGC – Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral.
However McIlroy could have been easily tempted to again hurl his now famous Nike ‘Vapor’ 3-iron into the lake guarding the last after first finding water with his driver and then after taking a penalty drop using the 3-iron only to see his ball drop short of the green and again into the same Blue Monster lake.
Tournament host Donald Trump was clearly at home milking the hype surrounding McIlroy’s now infamous club throwing incident in returning him the 3-iron on the practice range ahead of McIlroy teeing-up on day four, and while McIlroy put the club back into his bag, he’s promised the club to Trump who will have it framed and mounted in the clubhouse.
Scotland’s Marc Warren chatting with SKY’s Tim Barter after a final round 69 to share 17th place on debut in the WGC – Cadillac Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“We all know Donald as he’s never one to miss an opportunity,” said McIlroy smiling.
“But it was fine. It was all good fun.”
However four days when McIlroy failed to break 70 was no occasion to break out the champers.
“The game’s just not quite there so I am pretty disappointed with how I played overall,” he said.
“I felt it was a little better again today for the most part but it’s just not 100 per cent. It’s not as though there’s any alarm bells ringing but my inability to hit the ball right-to-left isn’t something that you want going into Augusta.
“So I just have to get back to it tomorrow on the range and try and figure it out.”
McIlroy will head to Augusta National tomorrow (TUES) spending two days playing alongside his father Gerry, Seminole Club President and Augusta member Jimmy Dunne, and four-time Superbowl New England Patriots quarter-back Tom Brady.
Marc Warren signs autographs after his final round of his first WGC – Cadillac Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The Callaway attached Warren posted five birdies in a final round 72 that handed the Scot a one over par tally for a share of 17th place in suburban Miami.
He had arrived in Florida ranked No. 54 in the world and should manage to pick up one or two places ahead of the cut-off at the end of this month for the April 9th commencing Masters at Augusta National.
However of more immediate interest to Warren was heading with his wife and young son west to Tampa Bay on the Florida west coast in readiness for a 2pm (local time Florida) tee time today (MON) on the Southern Hills Plantation course.
Warren will be looking to secure one of some six places on offer into Thursday’s starting $US 5.9m Valspar Championship at the Innsbrook Resort also in Tampa Bay.
“It’s been a very positive week and if I had of finished two under I may have avoided having to tee up tomorrow afternoon in Tampa,” he said.
“It was nice to finish strongly with birdies at 16 and 17 but then I hit my second just too good at the last and it took one bounce and landed over the back and up against the grandstand.
“But then when Laura and Archie and myself start heading off to Tampa I know I will be quite pleased with my effort given it was my first time here.
“This weekend in particular was very good as I was three under par after being four over the first two days so that just mirrored how comfortable I was getting to feel on the golf course.
“So I should manage to pick up a couple of spots on the rankings and hopefully if I can grab one of the qualifying spots tomorrow then a good showing in the Valspar could see me playing Arnie’s event the week later and then hopefully the Masters.”
