MARC WARREN lamented an Open of two halves after following a great two days at St Andrews with two mediocre ones. The Glaswegian had a share for a lead at one point earlier in the week and went into the two final rounds in real contention for the Claret Jug. A level-par 72 in the third round, however, was followed by a 74 yesterday and he eventually had to settle for five under and a tie for 40th position. Warren admitted his all-round game went to pieces and struggled to put his finger on why it had happened.

He said: “I never really got it going the last couple of days. I didn't drive it great on Sunday so went and hit some balls but just couldn't figure anything out at all. I even had a double warm-up yesterday morning to try and figure something out but I just couldn't get it. I was getting lost more than anything, to be honest. I just went about flat from then on in.

“I played nicely the first two days but then the putter dried up there the last couple of days. I didn't really take the birdie chances. Obviously it's disappointing. You don't want to go backwards any weekend, never mind when you put yourself in a good position at The Open. But it’s just one of those things. My game just wasn't there, unfortunately, but I’m looking forward to a good couple of weeks off now.”

It isn’t all doom and gloom for Warren, however, who will now look forward to competing in the final major of the season next month. He added: “There's still another major to play, the US PGA. This is me just moving into the second half of the year to be honest. I’m in a decent position in the Race to Dubai, a decent position in the top 50 in the world comfortably. I feel as if my game is good enough to do that and I've got big enough events in front of me. If I can play well I can make a nice move up the rankings.”

Neither of the other two Scots who made the cut fared much better. Paul Lawrie, who played with Warren in the penultimate round, shot a final round 73 to also finish in a tie for 40th.

He said: “I can’t really take any positives from the week because when I’m in there contending I'm normally pretty good at staying in there, and the last two days has been the opposite. I took myself right out of it on Sunday. I actually played quite nicely yesterday but just holed no putts at alI. I’ve got to find a way of getting the ball in the hole more regularly. It's becoming a mega issue for me.”

Richie Ramsay was one of the early starters yesterday but couldn’t take advantage of the easier conditions. He finished with four bogeys in a row to finish -1 for the week. “It just felt like a wasted opportunity on a course that I know well,” he said.