Marc Warren, who was criticised this summer for being too fond of fast cars and buying flats, has defended his lifestyle as he prepares to defend his Johnnie Walker Championship title.

Marc Warren, who was criticised this summer by former coach Bob Torrance for being too fond of fast cars and buying flats, has defended his lifestyle as he prepares to defend his Johnnie Walker Championship title this week over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.

"What Bob had to say was unfortunate," said Warren, who warmed up with a joint-fourth finish in the KLM Open in Zandvoort, Netherlands. "I didn't like the comments but it's up to me to use them to spur myself on.

"Personally, I don't think that I am too flash with my money. I'm fortunate that the job I am in can pay well if you do well but it's also a job that you have got to perform to get paid. It's not like football where you get wages every week.

"If you do make money in golf you have every right to spend it any which way you want. Bob and I are still on good terms and it was just a professional decision I had to make. It was a golf-related decision and nothing personal."

Warren rose to No.238 when the world rankings were updated yesterday and is hoping this his current form will lift him even higher.

"I've got no answer as to why I seem to play my best golf in the later stages of the year; I've being doing that the last three years," he said. "Even though I have changed my early-season schedule to be better prepared for the bigger events, it just hasn't worked out.

"People keeping say to me that around this time of year is the best time of the year for me and it's going to be great teeing up this week as defending champion because, aside from my fourth in Holland and Monty and me winning the World Cup of Golf, individually I haven't really done a lot since Gleneagles last year."

Last week's was his first top-10 finish this season and his best result since his victory last year, of which he has just acquired a video of his final round. "It was great just sitting down and watching it," he said. "It was very motivational. Even though I got off to a bad start I was delighted with the way I played over the closing stages and in the play-off. It was a very special week as I began with a 65 and then to win in front of my family and friends made it extra special.

"Now, having finished fourth in Holland, it's just a great result to take to Gleneagles and it has definitely put a lot of fire back in my belly. There's a really good field this year for Gleneagles and probably one of the best in the history of the event so that's another incentive to do well."

Martin Laird, meanwhile, rose to world No.201 after his joint-seventh place in The Barclays in New Jersey and that makes him third highest ranked Scot after Alastair Forsyth (86) and Colin Montgomerie (91). Laird also moved up to No.117 in the PGA Tour money list, eight places inside the top 125 who retain their cards, and up to No.67 in the FedEx Cup standings.

Darren Clarke has risen from No.90 to No.56 in the world rankings following his KLM Open victory.

Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh remain at Nos.4 & 5, even though it was Singh who won their play-off at The Barclays in New Jersey.