Warren makes most of Torrance tutorial

An intensive practice session with coach Bob Torrance helped Scotland’s Marc Warren into the early lead in the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters today.

Warren, who holed the winning putt in the Walker Cup in 2001, spent six hours hitting balls under Torrance’s watchful eye on Monday and it paid instant dividends in the event at Barseback.

A bogey-free five-under-par 67 gave Warren a one-shot lead over a group of players including former US Open champion Michael Campbell and Birmingham’s Tom Whitehouse.

Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson is a shot further back after a 69 while defending champion Mark Hensby – who beat Stenson in a play-off last year - could only manage a 72.

Warren had struggled to make an impact as a professional until topping the Challenge Tour rankings last year with two tournament victories.

“Those years on the Challenge Tour have done me the world of good,” the 25-year-old said. “I was only 21 when I turned professional and it takes some getting used to. After four years I should be just about there.

“I’ve been playing well but it’s a tough standard out here and if you are not on your game you miss the cut.”

In fact Warren has missed the last four cuts in a row, including by one shot last week in Hamburg despite being three under par.

“That was a shame because it was the last of the four really big money tournaments and if I had done well in any of them I wouldn’t be worried about keeping my card,” added Warren, currently 129th on the money list.

“There is still a bit to go and I am confident I can get the results, especially if I can keep playing like this and rolling the putts in. Bob says there is not a lot to do with the swing and it is a case of getting the results now.

“I’ve been working hard on my swing mechanically so it’s a case of just trying to trust it a bit more around the course, which I did well today.”

Whitehouse, who won a £23,000 Audi TT for an eagle two on the ninth in last week’s Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship in Hamburg, was in the first group out at 7:30am local time and recovered from a bogey at the 10th, his opening hole, to card a 68.

“It’s nice to get off to a good start for a change but it wasn’t so nice getting up at 4am!” said Whitehouse. “I just couldn’t sleep properly worrying about missing the alarm.”

The 26-year-old won the tour qualifying school last year and is determined to avoid an immediate return. He currently lies 98th on the Order of Merit with the top 115 retaining their playing privileges for next season.

“Everyone is thinking about how much they need to keep their cards but I’m trying to set myself something a bit higher to take the focus away from it,” he added.

“I’d love to finish in the top 60 and qualify for the Volvo Masters and I think I’m capable of playing at that level.”

Campbell later matched Whitehouse’s 68 but was still frustrated at not converting enough birdie, and even eagle, chances.

“A 68 is probably the worst I could have shot today,” complained Campbell, who has not won a strokeplay tournament since his US Open win at Pinehurst in 2005.

“I had 275 yards to the pin on the last and smashed a 3-wood to six feet but missed it for an eagle. I had a great start and was four under after nine but after that the putter went cold a little bit and I am walking off a little bit disappointed.

“It’s been frustrating the last couple of months like that, hitting the ball great and not really scoring.”