Richie Ramsay says ending his seven-year wait for a fourth DP World Tour title has fuelled his determination to push on and achieve more success when he tees it up on home soil at the 2022 Hero Open.
The Scotsman claimed an emotional one-shot victory at the Cazoo Classic last week at Hillside Golf Club, which means he has now won a Tour title in each of the last three decades.
Victory has propelled Ramsay to 20th in the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and while the 39-year-old admits a weight has been lifted from his shoulders, he is relishing the opportunity to impress again at Fairmont St Andrews.
“I can go out and enjoy it now,” he said. “I do love the pressure, it’s what drives you, it’s good having that always there. I can afford to take some time off now, spend a bit more time with the family, but I’m hungry for more.
“Once you taste a bit of it, you want more. This sets me up well going into the second half of the season. The idea is to push on, when you’re playing well, why not try to get into contention this week and get into the mix.
“I was speaking to my coach Ian Rae, we were saying that when I won in Cran-sur-Sierre in 2012, I finished third the week after. We had a great party on the Sunday night, recovered Monday, and then it was all about conserving energy. My game was in a great position, confidence was really high, attitude in the right spot, just go and do what you’ve been doing. Very little pressure, go and free flow it.
“My game feels in a good position again, we’re in a lovely spot next to St Andrews, a bit of inspiration there, which is nice.”
The idea is to push on, when you’re playing well, why not try to get into contention this week and get into the mix
Ramsay narrowly missed out on victory earlier this season at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry but was delighted to deliver on a promise to his daughter, Olivia, to bring home a trophy although she is yet to see it first-hand.
“My wife and daughter are on holiday to see the family, my wife is American so they are seeing the extended family,” added Ramsay, who is out alongside defending champion Grant Forrest and New Zealander Ryan Fox.
“On Facetime with my daughter, she has about 20 cuddly animals, I asked if she wanted the animals to take care of the trophy until she gets back. It’s on her bed with 20 cuddly toys around it. She’s happy about that so she’ll get it when she comes home.”
He is among a 16-strong contingent of Scottish players in this week’s field competing on the Torrance Course and says the reaction he has received from his countrymen has touched him.
“Coming up here it has been really nice, you all want to play well and compete against each other, but when your peers come up to you and shake your hand, say well done, it means a lot,” Ramsay said.
“You walk along the range and there is that level of respect. That was really cool.”
Unlike The 150th Open at St Andrews earlier this month, Fairmont St Andrews is playing softer and longer which Ramsay believes will suit his eye.
“It's playing quite soft this week; the wind will have a big impact with the cliffside location,” he reflected on his practice so far at this week’s venue.
“If it switches and gets up it changes the course quite dramatically. I can see the scoring being quite low because the greens roll lovely. With it being a bit softer, if you can hit it close, get your eye in on the greens, I can see some low numbers.”
