Wind And Greens Made Marc Blow It

Oct 5 2008 By Gordon Waddell

MARC WARRENlaid into Kingsbarns' ropey greens as his Dunhill dream was blown off course.

The Scot (far right) started day three just three shots off the pace but fancied his chances of carving into that margin with most of the tournament's top dogs taking on the tougher track at Carnoustie.

And despite digging deep to stay within four shots of Germany's Martin Kaymer at the top of the leaderboard, the World Cup winner reckons he could have been right in the hunt - if it hadn't been for the dodgy putting surfaces on the Fife course.

Warren sighed: "I hit the ball great and didn't have a poor shot all day - but I three-putted four times.

The greens weren't cut, they were really bumpy and the ball went off line so many times.

"The course was borderline unplayable but I knew when I got up in the morning that it would be a long slog. It's probably the toughest day I've experienced on tour."

Fellow Scots Gary Orr, just a shot behind Warren at one under, Stephen Gallacher and Alistair Forsyth all made the cut for the final day - which was a triumph of teamwork as all four were shacking up in the same digs this week.

Not so lucky, though, was Colin Montgomerie who missed the cut by three shots after finishing double bogey, bogey on the Old Course. But despite the brutal conditions most of the pros were still singing the praises of the event.

Northern Irish Ryder Cup ace Graeme McDowell said: "Carnoustie in strong winds and rain is as hard as it gets but the course is unbelievably well presented.

"It's great - and we don't see enough of this kind of stuff.

'"If they played this tournament in June, July or August it would be the best event on the planet. It's a fantastic tournament on great courses. Sure, it's tough at this time of year.

"It's six hours of waiting around and it's also difficult to get any rhythm going on the greens when you are waiting sometimes half an hour between putts."

In the amateur event Englishman John Bickerton and partner BruceWatson hold a five-shot lead over the field on 21 under going into the last day.