Warren determined to make amends for Scottish Open collapse

Published on 22/08/2012 01:45

MARC Warren has revealed he was left cringing after watching a re-run of his late collapse in last month’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

In an honest assessment of the events that cost him the biggest win of his career in Inverness after leading by three shots with four to play, the 31-year-old admitted it had proved painful viewing.

Yet, having seen exactly where it all went wrong, Warren is feeling bullish about his chances of making amends for that disappointment when the 2007 winner bids for a second success in the Johnnie Walker Championship this week.

Looking forward to his first event since the Scottish Open, he said: “Having the last five weeks off was unfortunate, but the schedule just happened to be that way. It was nice to have a couple of weeks where I could reflect on things and go over it properly without dwelling on it too much and playing in another tournament.

“I needed time to think about it and, first and foremost, I had to make sure I learned from it instead of trying to put it to the back of my mind. I watched it, so it was a good learning experience, if nothing else.”

Warren was heading for his third European Tour title until he double-bogeyed the 15th, then dropped further shots at the next two holes.

With his brain scattered by then, the Glaswegian failed to secure the birdie he needed to get into a play-off that saw India’s Jeev Milka Singh beat Francesco Molinari at the first extra hole.

Warren, who works with Vision54, a sports psychology company run jointly by former Solheim Cup captain Pia Nilsson, added: “The more I have watched it the more I have thought that I played the 15th far too quickly after waiting on the tee there forever.

“Until then I had felt really in control – a lot calmer than I had been in that situation before – but I think I then lost a bit of concentration.

“As for me leaning on the boards at the side of the 18th tee, that was bizarre as I was still in with a chance of winning one of the biggest events of the year.

“All I had to do was make a 4 at the last to get into the play-off and I would probably have done that nine times out of ten. But, for whatever reason, I felt like I was standing there in a practice round on a Tuesday afternoon.

“The next time I’m in that situation I need to be more clinical. I also need to work on my body language when things aren’t going so well.”

Among 25 Scots in this week’s field – Lloyd Saltman came in off the reserve list yesterday – Warren is determined to get back into the mix on home soil.

“I still had positives to take from Castle Stuart,” he insisted. “I feel my game is still in great shape through working with Pete Cowen and it’s getting better and better as well.”