MARC Warren came within a 10-foot putt of claiming a small piece of European Tour history in a remarkable opening round.
The Glasgow professional, currently attempting to win back his European Tour card this season, recorded seven consecutive birdies on the Mark Parsinen/Gil Hanse-designed course outside Inverness.
Had the 30-year-old rolled in an eminently makeable putt on the 444-yard 13th hole, he would have equalled the most birdies ever made in succession, alongside Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Tony Johnstone, John Bickerton, Mark O’Meara, Raymond Russell, Darren Clarke, Marcello Santi, Marten Olander and Craig Spence.
Alas, the former Sir Henry Cotton rookie of the year missed and had to content himself with a five-under-par round of 67, just two adrift of the leaders. Having opened his round with a seemingly disastrous triple bogey seven at the straightforward 439-yard first, though, Warren was not to distraught about failing to write his name in the record books.
“I missed a six-foot birdie putt on the fifth then a 10-foot birdie putt on the 13th so it actually could have been much more,” he said. “But after the start I had my goal was just to get back under par. My ball striking was excellent. It is nice to have something to build on. Hopefully, I can gain some momentum because winning a big tournament like this would open so many doors.”
Scott Jamieson, the Cathkin Braes player who is attempting to win the rookie of the year award after recording four top-10 finishes in his debut season on tour, admitted he too is thinking of victory after matching his countryman’s score. “Thorbjorn Olesen overtook me in the Race to Dubai standings in the French Open on Sunday,” he said. “History shows that the rookie of the year normally wins so that is what I need to do.”
Warren and Jamieson were later joined on five-under by Peter Whiteford. The Kirkcaldy man, who carded six birdies and dropped just one shot, felt his round could have been far lower.
“I had birdie chances on most of the holes,” he said. “I left a few putts out there. I hit a lot good putts, but I misread them. I should have done far better than I did at 16, 17 and 18 but tee to green I didn’t put a foot wrong.
“I would fancy my chances if I got in position. I have won at college, I have won on the Challenge Tour and winning on the European Tour would be the next step. If you know how to win, you know how to win.”
Greig Hutcheon was the best of the rest on four-under- par while Alastair Forsyth, Martin Laird, Richie Ramsay, Stephen Gallacher, Steven O’Hara and Lloyd Saltman were bunched together on two-under.
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