Richie Ramsay Warming To Fiery Le National Course.

Richie Ramsay continues to relish the fiery nature of the Le National course to be easily within striking distance of the leaders heading to the closing two rounds of the French Open.

Ramsay finds himself the lone Scot left in the field seven compatriots, including Scotland No.1 Stephen Gallacher and rookie pro Bradley Neil cut from the tournament on the 2018 Ryder Cup host venue.

Also missing over the weekend is double defending French Open winner Graeme McDowell who will be out this afternoon (SAT) getting his first look at Gullane and venue for Thursday’s starting Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

The trio of former winner Martin Kaymer (69), Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (70) and local hero Victor Dubuisson (70), competing for a first time in France since last year’s Ryder Cup, share first place on just four under par and in a reflection how the course is being toughened for the next European soil Ryder Cup.

McDowell captured the 2008 Scottish Open at Loch Lomond but has struggled in recent weeks so much so on Monday the current World No. 48 will fall outside the elite top-50 for a first time in just over five years.

Richie Ramsay relishing the fiery conditions on the Le National course.  (Photo - www.golffile.ie)

Richie Ramsay relishing the fiery conditions on the Le National course. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“I am working with probably one of the best coaches in the world in Pete Cowen but then there is too much going on in my head technical-wise,” said McDowell.

“It means stripping all the technical stuff out of my mind and getting back to basics, and also catching-up with Pete next week as I have been chiselling away by myself the last few weeks.

“So I’m off to Scotland for an early practice round at Gullane Saturday afternoon and it’s not as though any alarm bells are ringing because I want to stress they’re not.”

It’s comforting for McDowell he returns to Scotland as he’s showed good form on the Old Course having been runner-up to Stephen Gallacher for the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links while he was 11th behind Tiger Woods a year later in the 2005 Open also at St. Andrews.

“The good thing is that for the next two weeks the golf courses are going to play similar to this course here in Versailles because at both Gullane and St. Andrews if you are slightly off with your game it is going to beat you up,” he added.

“So I am leaving France not reading too much into this 78 and looking for more of a straight forward test at Gullane and get myself ready for The Open.”

Ramsay looked surprisingly fresh after his round and confirming he’s shaken-off any ill effects of a stomach bug he picked up earlier in the week.

“I’m fine and I’m enjoying it out there because when you come here you know it’s not going to be easy, and it’s reflected in the scores as no one is running away with it.

“I will just keep doing  what I am doing  and hope to be knocking right on the door come the back nine on Sunday.

“Given it has been so hot the course is playing like a real links course and the more courses the better that have a lot of brown tinge rather than these manicured courses made for TV.

“This is the type of course everyone is playing now back home and with this heatwave we’re having they are doing well watering it and not seeing it go brick-hard.”

Neil birdied his closing two holes in only his second pro event to fall short by a shot in earning a first pay cheque and was left ruing a ninth hole triple bogey when at two under par.

Other Scots –

Scott Jamieson – 72 & 75 – 147; Chris Doak – 74 & 76 – 150;  Craig Lee – 72 & 79 – 151;  Marc Warren – 76 & 76 – 152;  Stephen Gallacher – 73 & 79 – 152;  David Drysdale – 76 & 78 – 154;



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