The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Marc Warren urges Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods to test themselves at Gullane
WARREN: Scottish golfer believes playing at the new venue is a “no-brainer”
Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods should see the “massive value” in coming to Gullane for this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, believes Marc Warren.
World No 1 Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and defending champion Justin Rose have already signed up for the championship in July the week before the Open at St Andrews.
And according to Warren it only makes sense to tee it up.
“This is a tournament that has become important to guys all over the world,” said the Scot, who cracked the world’s top 50 this year and is just back from the Cadillac World Match Play in San Francisco.
“Phil (Mickelson) winning both the Scottish and the Open (in 2013) made a huge difference.
“I love Loch Lomond and would like to go back but it makes too much sense to play the Scottish on links before the Open. The two weeks becomes all about links golf, it’s an absolute no-brainer.”
Spieth, the new Masters champion and No 2 in the world behind McIlroy, could thrive at Gullane, added Warren.
“I think it would make perfect sense for Jordan to play and I’d love to see it.
“He seems like a really deep thinker about the game and he’ll look at the schedule and look at the winners.
“Guys at that level are not stupid and I’m sure he’ll see massive value in playing this event.”
As for Woods, Warren thinks he needs to break his custom of not playing the week before a major.
“I think he is missing out. It’s a great way to set up your game for the Open and links golf is so different from normal golf,” continued Warren. “Some guys say playing two weeks in bad weather could affect your swing, but we’ve had some great weeks, it was unbelievably good when Phil won in 2013.
“It’s everyone’s own choice, but I’d love to see Woods here. It would be the icing on the cake for where the tournament is in the schedule and what it deserves.”
Warren was at Gullane launching children’s charity Mindroom as the official charity for the championship, and has reacquainted himself with the course.
“It’s shaping up really well. The rough is already really thick in places, so it just needs a bit more definition, which will happen naturally.
“It’s perfect preparation for the Open. I definitely think I can contend here.
“I’ve played a lot of links golf in my career and, having been third twice over two different courses, the Scottish Open is a tournament suited to my game.”