Castle Stuart horror for Warren
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MARC Warren shrugged off the agony of missing out on Scottish Open glory after having the title in the palm of his hand.
The Scot was three clear at the top of the leaderboard with just four holes to play, before a disastrous finish meant he even missed out on a play-off.
Eventually Indian Jeev Milkha Singh pipped Italy’s Francesco Molinari to the Aberdeen Asset Management sponsored tourney, birdieing the first play off hole to win after both finished tied on -17.
, was left to reflect on the double bogey – bogey – bogey horror which robbed him of victory in his home championships.And Warren, who was 20 under when he teed off on the 15
But the 31-year-old insisted: “I know there are much more important things in life than a golf tournament.
“Losing my card (he lost his European card two years ago) was a lot worse because at least I know where I’m playing next and what my schedule is.
“This is a massive step towards the Race to Dubai, so it doesn’t even compare.”
With the wind stronger for round 4 at Castle Stuart and some heavy rain storms to contend with, the scores in the low-to-mid 60s which dominated the first three rounds were never going to materialise.
But Warren, who started two behind overnight leader Molinari, began making positive strides with birdies at the first two.
Meanwhile, Singh surged from -12 to -16 with birdies in four of the first six holes on his way to a 67 which set the benchmark in the clubhouse long before the final groups came in.
However when Warren grabbed birdies at each of the first three holes of his back nine, he seemed destined to go on and win in front of a cheering Scots support.
with a terrific approach to 15 feet and a cool putt to clinch the title.Molinari closed the gap with a birdie on 13, but bogeyed 15 after Warren dropped two at the same hole. Two more errors by the Scotsman took him out of contention, meaning a play-off between the Italian and Indian players which Singh won at the 18
A record Castle Stuart crowd witnessed the drama, and the Highland venue will host the tournament for a third year in 2013.
Don't miss pictures from Castle Stuart in Friday's Northern Scot.
