European Tour rookie Richie Ramsay takes a one shot lead into the third round of The Celtic Manor Wales Open - and hopes his experience of playing with some of the biggest names in golf will now pay dividends.
After becoming the first Scot in 108 years to win the US Amateur title three years ago Ramsay partnered Phil Mickelson at the Masters Tournament, Tiger Woods at the US Open Championship and Padraig Harrington in The Open Championship.
The 25 year old from Aberdeen missed the cut in all three, but after rounds of 68 and 67 so far this week he is seven under par on the course where next year's Ryder Cup will take place and where two Major Champions and 73 European Tour champions set out on Thursday.
Having also partnered Sergio Garcia a week ago at The European Open Ramsay said: "They've all got great talent, but they can grind out a score when they are not playing so well.
"Sometimes I can be a bit hard on myself, but I've learnt to take the positives of each round more now.
"Sergio's been my favourite since I've been a little kid and to play with him was brilliant." Even more so because he out-scored the World Number Four by six with a 68.
Ramsay did not drop a stroke in his second round and added: "Ball-striking it was up there with the best. I didn't miss a green and I missed three birdie putts inside six feet."
The two Englishmen right on his heels are both looking to improve on recent near-misses.
Robert Rock lost a play-off for The 3 Irish Open to amateur Shane Lowry - still taking the first prize of €500,000 softened the blow of that - while Ross Fisher was pipped for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club by Paul Casey.
Fisher is the highest-ranked player at The Celtic Manor Resort this week and the World Number 23 showed his class with a 66 in the event which saw 12 Ryder Cup players take part along wth five 2009 champions and three first-time winners.
"This is a great opportunity - a chance to cash in big time," he said. "I obviously didn't want to miss the cut defending The European Open last week, but after a weekend off I feel as fresh as a daisy and I probably needed it."
Rock reached eight under, then dropped four strokes in three holes, then finished with two birdies like Fisher.
"I felt myself taking less and less time over the shots and it just slipped away a bit, but when we got to the next leaderboard I was relieved to see I hadn't put myself four or five behind."
Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie is only three behind Ramsay after a second successive 69 - and, given that he has not had a top ten finish for almost a year, that is an impressive display.
It promised to be even better for the 45 year old when he set off with three birdies in a row and shared top spot.
But it was a sign of how much his confidence has suffered when he said that, even with that start, he was happy with his score.
"It could have and should have been better, but I am learning to accept what's given," commented Montgomerie.
Four players share fourth place going into the weekend – Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, Spain’s Ignacio Garrido and France’s Jean-Baptiste Gonnet all reaching the halfway stage five under par.
