Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was heading back to his hotel for a hot bath delighted to now be within three of the lead in posting a 70 for share of fourth at four under par.
Ramsay walked from the course delighted with himself to have again braved all that Royal County Down has thrown at him over three rounds.
He heads to the last day sharing fourth place at four under par and only three shots behind Dane Soren Kjeldsen.
However there was the strange sight of Ramsay running from the scorer’s hut and keeping to a promise of signing autographs as he had done to a group of supporters in leaving the 18th green.
Richie Ramsay leaves the scorer’s hut to sign autographs ahead of speaking to the media post day three at the Irish Open.
“I like where I am on the leader board and it’s a good spot but then it’s back nine Sunday, and that’s where it’s all going to come down to,” said the Scot.
“My three victories to date have come when either I have been leading or sharing the lead, so this will be a new challenge tomorrow.
“I just love it when there’s a bit of pressure coming down the last nine, and I feel almost more comfortable coming down the stretch on a Sunday than teeing up on a Thursday.
“And the way I play my golf, and if the wind keeps coming from the same direction, then I just thrive on that.
“But then Soren has also done us all a bit of favour by dropping two shots and that brings a lot of guys including myself back into the picture, for sure.
“Two shots is not a lot and given the weather is supposed to be horrific tomorrow then you can lose those shots at the first hole.”
Capturing the Irish Open would be a career defining experience says Ramsay. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Ramsay is looking also to become the first Scot in 14 years to lift the Irish Open trophy after Colin Montgomerie captured a third title in 2001 at Fota Island.
Also there is the double reward of earning exemption into this year’s Open Championship and Ramsay’s first in a St. Andrews Open.
“To win this Irish Open would be a career-defining moment given the field that was assembled this week,” he said.
“It would be a US Amateur type win on a professional level, if that makes sense given the field and it would make a huge difference in terms of how I would look at my Tour record.
“The Irish is such a great tournament. It has such a great history and some of the greats of the game have won an Irish Open at some time in their careers.
“I would place an Irish Open victory right behind the Majors and the WGC titles, and up there with winning a Scottish Open, the BMW PGA and events like that.”
Glasgow’s Scott Jamieson, and the only other Scot from a starting contingent of nine to make the cut, was in no mood for a long fireside chat after finishing double-bogey, bogey in a round of 73.
In fact, Jamieson started his round double-bogey, bogey but then played the third to the 14th holes in four under par.
Jamieson heads today’s final round inside the top-40 at five over par.
