Warren swinging in the rain as he finds form at ideal time to take share of lead
MARC WARREN sets off in search of his fourth European Tour victory — and his first since 2014 — in today’s final round of the Austrian Open.
He shares the lead with young German Nicolai von Dellingshausen, who is bidding for a maiden title.
They fared best as heavy rain battered the course at Diamond Country Club just outside Vienna, with overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez falling away badly.
A far cry from Friday’s blistering heat, reaching highs of 35 degrees, persistent downpours fell in Atzenbrugg. Warren and Von
Dellingshausen lead by one stroke on 11 under par, with six men within two strokes ahead of today’s final round.
Warren reached the turn one under par after three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine and birdied on the 15th to match Van Dellinghausen’s two-under 70 posted earlier.
‘I was probably as wet coming off today as I was yesterday, but with water instead of sweat,’ said Warren afterwards. ‘It was incredibly different conditions, teeing off it was the heaviest rain we’d had all day.
‘It was a grind from the start, so it was good to get round in under par. We were thinking if it carried on like that we wouldn’t be out there much longer, but the golf course held up incredibly well. I didn’t see one bit of water on the greens.
‘I was just playing for pars, playing sensible golf and waited for the birdies instead of trying to go and get them. A couple of good short irons set up two good chances on three and four. It was nice to get a couple of birdies early on.
‘I know what to expect. Some guys haven’t won before, they might not know what to expect,’ added Warren, whose last Tour victory came in Denmark.
Fellow Scot Connor Syme is in a share of third on 10 under par alongside Spain’s Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez, and Darius van Driel of Holland.
Syme celebrated his 25th birthday in style, recording the only bogey-free round of the day — a three-under 69. Making his 26th European Tour start this week, Syme’s best result to date came on this course in
2018 when he finished runnerup in the Shot Clock Masters.
Craig Howie’s 74 put him in a tie for ninth on seven under but it was a day to forget for Jimenez. A woeful 77 left him a shot further back on six under.
IAN POULTER is in a tie for sixth going into the final round of the Workday Charity Open in Ohio. A 69 left the Englishman six shots behind leader Justin Thomas, who fired a 66.