Golf

Possible ticket to US Masters an extra motivation for Marc Warren

Scot needs to finish in top 20 at Valero Texas Open to book his passage to Augusta

Marc Warren: “Fortunately the people at the Valero Texas Open have given me an invite for this week, which gives me a great opportunity to get into the Masters.” Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images
Marc Warren: “Fortunately the people at the Valero Texas Open have given me an invite for this week, which gives me a great opportunity to get into the Masters.” Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images
Thu Mar 26 2015 - 09:13

Scotland’s Marc Warren will look to secure his first appearance in the Masters at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio this week.

Warren is currently ranked 52nd in the world and needs to move into the top 50 when the standings are updated on Monday to join countrymen Stephen Gallacher, Sandy Lyle and Bradley Neil at Augusta.

The 33-year-old from Glasgow needs to finish inside the top 20 at TPC San Antonio and can draw on previous good performances in the United States, having finished 12th and 15th in the last two US PGA Championships and 17th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral earlier this month.

Big positive

“Once you get close to the top 50 it can play on your mind a little bit, but it’s been a big positive for me that it hasn’t been on my mind. I’ve just kept doing what I’m doing,” said Warren.

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“Fortunately the people at the Valero Texas Open have given me an invite for this week, which gives me a great opportunity to get into the Masters.

“But this event in Texas is a massive event in its own right, so to be brutally honest, my focus is all on that at the minute. The Masters is always going to be there next year, so if I get in or not, it’s not the be all and end all at such an early stage of the season.”

Italy’s Francesco Molinari can also qualify for the Masters in San Antonio, but the world number 63 needs a top-three finish or better.

Australia’s Steven Bowditch will defend his title against a field which includes Texas native Jordan Spieth, five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Dustin Johnson and US Open champion Martin Kaymer.

Home week

FedEx Cup leader Jimmy Walker, who successfully defended his Sony Open title in Hawaii in January, will also be looking to become the first two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season in his home event.

“It’s hard to win any week, let alone your home week, so I don’t think you can really put it in perspective like that,” said San Antonio resident Walker.

“But it would definitely be a lot of fun, it would be fun to hear the cheers from the crowd, being from here, and having a chance to win on Sunday.

“I think it would be a good experience. It would be something I’m trying to do. We’ll see how it goes.”