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Marc Warren birdied the second playoff hole Sunday to beat Simon Wakefield and become the first Scottish winner of the Johnnie Walker Championship.
Warren holed a birdie putt on the 18th at Gleneagles to finish with a 69 and get into a playoff with Wakefield, who shot a 70. Both finished at 12-under 280.
In the playoff, both got pars on the first hole. On the second, Warren set up his birdie with a putt from 60 feet that stopped within five feet of the cup.
“It’s a dream come true,” Warren said. “The support of the Scottish crowd was priceless.”
The victory was the 25-year-old Scot’s second on the European Tour. Both have come on the second playoff hole.
Last year, Warren took the Scandinavian Masters in a playoff against Robert Karlsson. He also won two playoffs in Challenge Tour events. The only playoff he has lost in five years as a pro was in last year’s World Cup, in partnership with Colin Montgomerie.
Martin Erlandsson (66) and Soren Hansen (68) shared third place, one shot behind. Erlandsson had two eagles on the front nine.
Hansen missed the playoff when he failed to make a six-foot birdie putt on the last hole.
Fredrik Andersson (72), who led with Wakefield overnight, shared fifth place with Graeme Storm (69).
Warren made three bogeys on the first five holes, but birdied five holes out of seven through the turn and three of the last five.
“I seem to do well under pressure. I don’t see the problem of pressure,” Warren said.
Wakefield, who has not won on the European Tour, but had a second in 2005 and was third at this year’s Irish Open, did not have a bogey in his final round.
“I felt really comfortable and struck it really well all day,” Wakefield said. “I can’t remember a bad shot really. I’m deflated. I did everything I could out there. I held it together very well.”
Montgomerie shot a 70 for a total of 8-under 284. “It was OK,” he said. “I didn’t putt well at all. I played lovely today; much, much better. But I missed everything – I had chances everywhere. My putting’s getting better, but it’s not good enough.”
Defending champion Paul Casey finished tied for 60th after an 80, including three double bogeys in the first five holes.
“I hit three bad shots and they cost me six strokes,” Casey said. “I wasn’t committing to the shots.”
