Scotland's Marc Warren finished with a share of 12th place - easily his best finish in a major - as Jason Dufner won the US PGA Championship by two shots.

The 32-year-old from Glasgow recovered from an opening 74 with rounds of 67, 68 and 69 to end only one shot behind Rory McIlroy as best-placed British player.

Warren said: "I'm very delighted. I didn't play great on Thursday but to finish in a major, especially the PGA, with three rounds in the 60s is very pleasing.

"I felt really comfortable and confident over everything I was doing. The last few days felt very stress-free which is unusual on a golf course as tough as this.

"It's just another kind of step in the right direction I suppose, a decent finish in the majors which is something I had not done before, so it's nice to tick it off.

"I've played the Open, the US Open and the PGA, so the Masters is the only one missing for the 'Warren Slam'."

McIlroy believes his share of eighth place marked a "very big" step in the right direction in a disappointing season by his high standards.

McIlroy's hopes of successfully defending his title effectively disappeared with a triple-bogey seven on the fifth, but the former world number one battled back to record a closing 70 at Oak Hill.

The 24-year-old has still posted just one top-three finish this season compared to five wins around the world in 2012, but was pleased with his performance after making four birdies in six holes towards the end of his second round to simply make the cut.

"I played the best golf of the week today," said McIlroy, who finished three under par, seven behind Dufner. "I hit some really good drives and really good iron shots. Didn't quite putt as well as I did the first three days, but really, really happy with my game going into the next few weeks.

"It's a very big step in the right direction. I saw a lot of great signs out there today. Hopefully I can just bring that through to the next few weeks and have a strong finish to the season.

"I made a big number on five (although) I hit a good shot, exactly what I wanted to do with it. It just pitched in the exact wrong place. Everything else feels pretty good."

Meanwhile, Dufner admitted his nerves were jangling as he claimed his first major title at Oak Hill.

Dufner, who equalled the lowest score in major history with a second-round 63, carded a closing 68 to finish 10 under par, two shots ahead of overnight leader Jim Furyk.

The 36-year-old is famous for displaying no emotion on the course - and sparking an internet craze known as 'Dufnering' - but conceded he was feeling the pressure of holding onto his lead over the closing stretch.

"I come across as a pretty cool customer I guess but there are definitely some nerves out there when you are trying to win a major championship," Dufner said.

"It probably has not sunk in. I can't believe this is happening to me. I decided that I was going to be confident and put my best foot forward and play aggressive to try to win this thing. The last two holes were a little unfortunate to finish with two bogeys but I am happy to get the job done and it's a big step in my career.

"My name will always be on that trophy and no-one can take that from me. It's a great accomplishment for me."

It is certainly better than being famous for 'Dufnering', which came about when he was caught on camera at a charity event slumped against a classroom wall, gazing straight ahead with a blank stare, arms rigidly by his side.

The image was seized upon and copied by Dufner's fellow professionals, including Keegan Bradley whom Dufner had lost to in a play-off for the US PGA in 2011 after squandering a five-shot lead with four holes to play.

"I got some notoriety for maybe something that was probably trying to hurt me a little bit and ran with it and it helped me a lot," said Dufner, who has since become good friends with Bradley. "I got a lot of fans because of it and people identified me through it, and that was good.

"I saw Keegan as I finished up and he just said 'I'm proud of you'. I was probably over what happened in Atlanta, 95 percent of it, by the time we got back home at Auburn.

"You always carry those scars with you. He always jabbed at me a little bit about having one of these (the Wanamaker Trophy) in his house, and thanks for giving it to him and all that stuff. And now I've got one, too. It's pretty neat to come back and win a PGA to be honest with you."