Marc Warren has leaned on the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to give himself a career boost before, but it seems the Scot is going to rely on himself a little more from now on.
The 35-year-old three-time tour winner needs a decent run between now and the end of the season to make sure he retains his Euripean Tour playing rights, his two-year exemption for his last win in Denmark in 2014 running out this year.
A 66 on the Old Course yesterday, equalling the best round of the day in tougher conditions than Thursday’s, lifted him into the top 10 and after a false start at Kingsbarns he’s back in the mix for the high finish he needs.
Warren started the championship with three successive bogeys on a course he likes, but where he admits he “just can’t seem to a see a score”.
“I’d had such a great week of practice just on my own, I played at Carnoustie in 40 mph winds so I felt I was prepared, but I’ve always had problems at Kingsbarns,” he admitted. “The other guys go there expecting a score but I’m always shooting around par.
“Scott Jamieson texted me at the end of yesterday to say `I see you had your usual at Kingsbarns’. But after that start getting back to level par was a result of sorts.”
Back on the Old Course, the positives from last week’s preparation started to flow immediately, and he went out in 32.
“The difference is shown at the third, I probably putting out of turn at the double green on the third because I saw the line immediately and just wanted to hit it,” he laughed. “I just don’t see the lines at Kingsbarns.”
Warren has had a frustrating season, feeling there are times when he has played well but not taken advantage to the extent that he now lies 125th on the Race to Dubai needing to make up some places as the season winds down.
“I just went away and worked by myself for a week,” he said, in a sort of reference to the amount of swing advice he’s taken in recent years. “I took some video and just tried to see where I felt most comfortable.
“I just wanted to do it on my own rather than be reliant on other people. I feel my swing’s in the position where I can do that now.”
Other than Warren, it wasn’t a great day for the home hopes in cooler, breezier and wetter conditions. Andrew McArthur, a distant 214th on the Race to Dubai with only four cheques to his name this season, is inside the top 20 after a two-under 70 on the Old Course lifted him to four-under for the championship.
Jamieson, after his bright start at Kingsbarns on Thursday, fell away to a three-over 75 at St Andrews. Richie Ramsay is on three-under after a 71 at Kingsbarns, while Craig Lee got it going at St Andrews for a while but three bogeys in four holes had him finishing at two-under for the championship.
