Marc Warren reaches semi-finals of Paul Lawrie Match Play
Sunday 2 August 2015 17:53, UK
Marc Warren produced a spectacular finish to edge out Tyrrell Hatton and reach the semi-finals of the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play.
After Hatton had chipped in for an unlikely birdie at the 18th to square an enthralling last-eight battle at Murcar Golf Links, Warren then holed out from 59 yards for an eagle at the first extra hole to book a Sunday date with Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The Scot enjoyed a 3&1 win over former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts in Saturday morning's third round, but he fell three down after five holes against Hatton and required on-course treatment for a back injury.
But Warren defied the pain to pull all-square at the turn, and he made it four wins in five holes at the 11th to go two up before Hatton stopped the rot with a birdie at the 13th.
Warren restored his two-hole lead at the next, but he could not match Hatton's par at the 16th and the Englishman's sublime chip at 18 forced extra time, only for Warren's second at the first extra hole to dive into the cup on the second bounce.
"It was one of the most bizarre games I have ever been involved in," Warren said. "It started on the first with poor tee shots from both of us into a bunker and he ended up holing out from 100 yards for a birdie.
"He had two other chip-ins after that and I guess on the 19th it was my turn. The match was bizarre from start to finish with holed shots, lost balls, good golf and terrible golf, so I think it was fitting to finish like that."
Warren, who will move back into the world's top 50 on Monday and therefore make his debut in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational next week, needed treatment from the European Tour physio after the sixth hole.
"It's a niggling muscle spasm down the side of my shoulder blade and I could feel it getting tighter the first few holes," Warren added. "The physio barely laid his hands on me and my back started cracking.
"I was actually hoping for a bit of massage but he instantly said there was a blockage, there must have been four or five cracks and instantly it felt as if I was a little bit freer."
Thai star rallies
Aphibarnrat battled into the last four after the third seed came from three down after four holes to beat Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey.
The other semi-final will see David Howell take on former Ryder Cup team-mate Robert Karlsson after the pair enjoyed victories over Chris Wood and Richie Ramsay respectively.
Karlsson, who had missed the cut in his previous six events, holed from 50 feet for birdie across the 16th green to take the lead for the first time and chipped in for a par on the 17th to stay in front before closing out the match on the last.
"A couple weeks ago, I didn't really want to come here," former European No 1 Karlsson said. "I thought it would be better to go home and practice but I thought maybe a match play tournament could help me because it frees you up a bit more and if you hit two or three bad shots, you are not carrying them with you the rest of the week.
"When you get in these sort of runs, it breaks you down mentally, especially when you have been out here for 25 years, and the way I have played the last few weeks, I kind of looked at flights back to Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon.
"I played terrible in the pro-am and did not sniff making a birdie but match play is a different thing and it's great to be in this position."
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Howell was two down after four to Wood but birdied the fifth and ninth and holed out from 58 yards on the 11th for an eagle on his way to a 5&4 victory.
The 40-year-old has finished second three times this season and admitted he was not sure if he could cope with the demands of a possible six rounds in four days.
"We talked about that before deciding to play here this week and this is my sixth week in a row as well," Howell said. "But I'm feeling good. My physio has been keeping me in great shape of late and I've been working out. I might be 40, and I do feel it, but I'm doing well anyway."
