Marc Warren made a strong statement that he is ready to shed the rookie tag when the Scotsman shot a sparkling opening round of eight-under 65 to soar to the lead in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, however, ensured that Warren can’t take his place for granted and is breathing down his neck from just one shot behind. Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Englishman Miles Tunnicliff turned in identical round of six-under 67 to stay in the hunt.
The 26-year-old Warren, who was adjudged European Tour’s 2006 Rookie of the Year, did not have a great season before he landed at Gleneagles. The winner of the 2006 Scandinavian, he had missed 14 cuts in 21 starts. But coach Bob Torrance, who had earlier guided Padraig Harrington to win the Open, seems to have finally diagnosed what was wrong with Warren and the result was before all to see.
Heaping praise on his coach, the youngster said
On Tuesday we were working away and it wasn’t really the way I wanted it to be. I spoke to Bob later that night and we both agreed I was just frustrated the way I had been playing and it came to a head. Everything is fine now.
Among other golfers in the fray, another Scotsman, Colin Montgomerie, was four-under, while defending champion Paul Casey carded 71, definitely a better show than Lee Westwood who went one over.
