Marc Warren finally got back to the European Tour’s gala dinner at Wentworth this week and was most chuffed that his dinner suit still fitted.
The Scot had not been entitled to an invitation to the grand annual celebration of the tour’s finest since 2008, but his victory in Denmark last year and subsequent rise to the World’s Top 50 got him a date at the lavish celebration and a stage appearance at one point.
However the Scot sheepishly admitted he was wearing the same suit as seven years ago, having spent most of his two weeks off enjoying family life and practising ahead of his return to Wentworth.
“2008 was literally the last time I wore a dinner suit, “ he said. “I was just delighted that it still fitted perfectly after seven years!”
Warren will probably have to get himself down to the tailors for a new one because there’s going to be a few more gala dinners the way he has been playing in the last year, and Wentworth is a definite target to build on that.
Two years ago he lost out in a play-off for the title, and several other good performances have convinced him the West Course is a place he can win.
“It’s a course I enjoy playing,” he said. “Obviously it’s the flagship event and it’s pretty easy to enjoy it when we come here and get treated as well as we do; spoiled, to be honest.”
Warren didn’t plan in Spain last week – “another event that’s been pretty good to me” because he’s picking his schedule more carefully now and he wanted to be perfectly prepared for this week.
“It was a bit of a squeeze to play there and concentrate on here,” he explained.
“I’m here, Ireland next week and then hopefully the US Open. I’m 57th in the world right now and the Top 60 are exempt.
“I’ll probably stay there, but when it’s in your hands, you want to play well and take control of it. The way my game’s feeling, and on this golf course, I feel as though I could do that.”