Marc Warren wins European Tour return event in Austria

ATZENBRUGG, Austria (AP) — Carrying his own bag, Marc Warren closed with a 2-under 70 on Sunday for a one-shot victory at the Austrian Open, the first European Tour event since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the tour in March.

It was the fourth European Tour victory and first since 2014 for the 39-year-old Scot, who finished at 13-under 275 at Diamond Country Club.

Warren had slumped badly in recent years and came into the event ranked 1,258th in the world. He made only five cuts in 19 starts in 2019, with his best finish a tie for 56th. He said it was his first time playing without a caddie since 2005.

“Hopefully this is the one and only time. No matter what I say, I do enjoy the caddie’s company,” Warren said. “Last night I had a few nice texts from some of the caddies who are good friends. I didn’t say it, but I was thinking I could have done with one of them (Saturday), it was brutal. At times like that you appreciate what a great job they do. I’m looking forward to getting a caddie on the bag again.”

Warren began the day in a share of the lead with Nicolai von Dellingshausen of Germany and held off another German, Marcel Schneider, who closed with a 69 to finish alone in second.

Warren pushed in front of Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez of Spain with a birdie on the par-4 17th. Garcia Rodriguez hit his tee shot into the water on the par-3 18th and made double bogey to finish at 10 under.

The tour remains in Austria next week for the Euram Bank Open, which like this tournament will be co-sanctioned with the second-tier Challenge Tour. After that, the tour goes to Britain for a six-event swing as part of its pandemic-altered schedule.