The third round of the DP World Tour Championship promises to be a test of mental fortitude for Richie Ramsay as he tees up alongside World No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
Ramsay added a second round 69 to his opening 67 to move to eight under par before being joined by McIlroy on the same score and each trailing two shots behind Sweden’s Henrik Stenson on the Earth Course at Jumeriah Estate.
Stenson set-up his 18th hole birdie, and the last of seven birdies in his round, from very close to his second shot from the fairway and very close to a plaque placed on the fairway to commemorate last year’s 3-wood European Tour ‘Shot of the Year’.
“It’s the only plaque I have to remind me of a special shot, and it’s always good fun when you’re playing a course where you’ve done something really well,” he said.
Richie Ramsay (SCO) during round two of the 2014 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. The season ending DP World Tour Championship is played over the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai. 21/11/2014
Picture Fran Caffrey, www.golffile.ie
Ramsay was whisked off to a random drugs test after his round but after two days of the final event of the year remains positive of dealing with everything that goes on outside the ropes when McIlroy is competing.
“It’s great to be up there and great to be playing alongside Rory as that is where you want to be, and besides if you are playing in the same group as him then you must be doing something good,” he said.
“But it was really pleasing as a 69 is a good score and particularly to eagle 14 and then birdie 15.
“And for a second day in a row my attitude was really good, so I am really pleased with that aspect of my game plus I’ve got some good friends and family out there supporting me.
“But I’ve not got to embrace playing alongside Rory and just enjoy it, have fun and hopefully the gofl will take care of itself.”
Stephen Gallacher didn’t drop a shot in a round of one outward birdie and three inward birdies in a 68 to move to a share of 17th on four under par.
He capped his round with a booming 315-yard drive down the par four, 15th hole and while it is the shortest of the par fours Gallacher then drilled a sand-wedge from 72-yards out to just four feet.
However if there was a par save in his round it came at the last when Gallacher found water off the tee and then after taking a drop he smacked a 260-yard 5-wood uphill to just four feet from the flag but only to miss a fifth birdie.
“That was probably one of the best rounds I’ve played all year even though I didn’t get everything out of my round,” he said,
“I’m giving myself plenty of chances inside 15-feet and a 68 was the worst I could have scored.”
Gallacher arrived back to Dubai nine months from when he successfully retained his Dubai Desert Classic title in February and having played the opening two rounds in the company of McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
However Gallacher is 56-under par on the Emirates Club course for 16 rounds in the years 2010, 2012, 2013 and this season compared to being just 13 –under par for 14 rounds on the Earth Course in those same years he’s contested the DP World Tour Championship.
He said: “Of course, the Emirates Course is always going to hold a special place in my career but in saying that I do like this Earth course, but then you have to drive the ball well to give yourself chances.
“So if you hit it long and straight like Rory does and like Stenson does, and looking at the guys who have won around here, then it’s an advantage.
“But given I have been travelling now for four straight weeks I still feel great and there’s still plenty of gas left in the tank for these final two rounds and that’s thanks to the work I am doing with Kevin Duffy.
“So I am in good shape and I feel just as fresh as when I started out in Shanghai nearly a month ago.”
