The Grove, Watford, England …
Marc Warren took plenty of pleasure in sending his final drive some 20-yards past the best by Tiger Woods on route to a share of the lead on day one of the British Masters at The Grove.
Warren capped his round eagling the second hole or the 11th of his round in hitting a 235-yard 5-wood to just six inches on route to a share of the lead with a five under par 66.
Joining Warren atop of the board in overcast, cold and windy conditions was South African Richard Sterne, who was joint runner-up last week in Scotland, Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Woods had won the 2006 WGC – Amex Championship, and the last major tournament held at The Grove, using his prodigious length off the tee and managing three eagles and a birdie at the uphill par five 18th over the course of the four days to win by eight shots.
Tiger Woods plaque commemorating from where he hit his second shot on route to a first eagle in the 2006 WGC – American Express Championship.
The Grove Club has commemorated Woods efforts with three plaques for the then 13-time Major winner’s three eagles, and with all three plaques lying within 20-feet of each other though with one in the rough, as was the case 10 years ago and also this week but then on the fairway for regular guests.
“I noticed the plaques during Wednesday’s Pro-Am but then it was nice today as I sent my drive about 20-yards past them,” said Warren.
“I guess it just shows how much technology over the past 10 years has changed the game.”
And Warren displayed just how much he’s benefitted from last week’s superb fifth place in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and an effort that lifted him from 125th, and 10 places outside of forfeiting his Tour card, and up to 70th on the Race to Dubai money list.
The third Tiger Woods plaque to commemorate his second shot for eagle on day three of the 2006 WGC – American Express Championship.
“I went back home on Sunday night feeling very proud and also relieved as it was clearly an important week for me,” he said.
“I also looked back after hitting some of the best shots I have ever hit down the stretch and particularly playing the 17th at the Old Course the way I did, was particularly pleasing after playing a low draw into the green to set-up a great par.
“I just felt after getting that hole done I could just play for position after that.
“Also for Martin Kaymer, who I was tied with after the par on 17, to come over and congratulate me on the way I finished with the birdie at the last to finish one ahead of him was very pleasing and speaks volumes of how he plays the game.
Marc Warren after shooting a first round 66 to share on the lead on day one of the British Masters.
“So I took a lot of confidence out of last week and with the game clearly in pretty good shape, I carried that form from last Sunday into today’s round which is really nice”.
In securing only his second top-10 in 26 events this year, Warren had singled out two trailing aides he had purchased using his wife, Laura’s credit card including a £32 purchase of a ‘Tour Striker’ or a rubber ball hanging from a lanyard around your neck and held in place by his outstretched arms.
And after revealing the purchase last week in Scotland, Warren’s revealed he’s been sent additional aids free-of-charge by the firm concerned.
Scott Jamieson birdied three of his four closing holes in a three under par 68 as he seeks repeat what Warren did last week and retain his card for 2017.
Jamieson arrived at The Grove lying 117th on the money list and two places shy of holding onto his card.
However Stirling’s Craig Lee, who was out in the first group, was disappointed letting slip having moved to three under par after just five holes and after also eagling the second, end at one under.
