After securing his highest finish in a Challenge Tour event with a runner-up spot on La Gomera, Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer feels this could be the week he goes one better at the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open.
The 26 year old Nuremberg native finished in a three-way tie for second place at the Fred Olsen Challenge de España last week, albeit ten shots behind record-breaking runaway winner Brooks Koepka, despite recently recovering from a knee problem and having to cope with the added pressure of limited playing opportunities on the Challenge Tour under his exemption category.
Ritthammer, who finished 34th in the Challenge Tour rankings in 2011 before securing a European Tour card through the Qualifying School, struggled somewhat on the top tier in 2012 and also found himself languishing down at 108th in the Challenge Tour rankings come the end of last season.
That meant a Category 11 Challenge Tour card – an exemption that offers players fairly restricted playing privileges – but the German is intent on making the most of any starts that come his way and has seemingly been staying in fine form by virtue of some excellent performances on one of the third-tier satellite tours.
“I’ve had a long season already,” said Ritthammer during a practice round at the picturesque Golf & Spa Kunetická Hora, 95 kilometres east of the Czech capital Prague.
“I’ve played ten events on the Pro Golf Tour (formerly EPD Tour) and have performed well, winning twice and finishing second twice, so I’ve been feeling very good.
“Under my category I know I will not get to play many events and therefore I need to make the very most of them when I do. I got into the Barclays Kenya Open and managed to finish tied seventh, missed the cut at the Challenge de Madrid because I was really suffering with a knee problem and so last week was my third chance and so I was very happy to finish second.”
Indeed, Ritthammer, who recovered from his knee injury with help from his physiotherapist girlfriend Sarah, saw his joint runner-up finish in the Canary Islands propel him to 22nd in the 2013 Challenge Tour rankings and left him in confident mood ahead of the second edition of the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open.
“I am looking forward to this week,” he continued. “I’m in good shape game-wise and physically now and really feel ready to win on the Challenge Tour. I had a bad season last year but I already feel much better; I worked on some mental aspects over the winter, my short game is good and I’m making fewer mistakes with my long game so I figure why not now?
“I finished tied 19th last year here and I like the course, it’s a good a layout and is in great condition considering the weather they have had in central Europe.
“But in general I really enjoy it here. You have some tight holes where you really have to place your ball – tight fairways and high rough – and that more strategic approach fits me quite well.”
Ritthammer also admitted that a change in mentality has helped him get back to his best as he attempts to play more within himself and take his rounds – and scoring – on a more shot-by-shot basis.
This, he feels, could stand him in good stead when he tees it up in Pardubice on Thursday.
“I was happy with the way I finished the tournament last week,” Ritthammer reflected. “I played very well on the third day and not so great on the final day without making any big mistakes. But I take a lot from the fact I think I’ve become better in playing decent golf when it matters, and that was what helped me in Spain.
“Hopefully I will get a chance to win this week; I knew starting eight shots behind on the final day was probably a bit much but maybe I can give myself a better chance here. We will see, first things first I will look to play two good rounds, make the weekend and then anything can happen.”
