Glasgow golfer Marc Warren is targeting some desert delights after a happy homecoming in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The 34-year-old finished with a flourish on the Old Course yesterday and birdied the last to clinch fifth place behind eventual winner Tyrell Hatton and safeguard his Tour card for next season.

Warren arrived in the cradle of the game in the perilous position of 125th on the circuit’s money list and was facing a fight for Tour survival with events running out.

But after posting his best finish of a frustrating season with a 67 for a 16-under 272, the three-time Euro champ can now breathe a huge sigh of relief.

His cheque for £155,832, which doubled his earnings for the year, propelled him up into 70th spot on the order of merit and the Scot is now targeting a place in the Final Series, the lucrative trio of events that concludes with the Tour Championship in Dubai.

Warren said: “Hopefully I can now add a few more events to my schedule and Dubai is certainly in my sights now.

“Relief is the first word that comes to mind. It’s been a frustrating year and the numbers don’t lie.

“People often say that trying to keep your Tour card is similar to the pressures you face when you’re trying to win an event.

“You need to hit the shots when it matters and fortunately I’ve pulled out the best performance of the year at the right time. It’s very pleasing to know you can do it when it comes down to it."

Warren reached a career high of 48th in the world rankings in February last year but his loss of form led to him dropping down to 218th coming into the Dunhill event.

He added: “There are always ups and downs and golf is like that. When you get frustrated with your game it all snowballs but when I get good feelings I know I can more than hold my own.”

Hatton eased to four-shot victory and earned his maiden Tour triumph with a closing 66 for a record-equalling tally of 23-under.