Richie Ramsay boosted hopes of retaining his Tour card in what could be his very last event that to a ‘Facetime’ chat with daughter, Olivia.
Heavy rain and the threat of lightning delayed the start of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters by two hours and with Ramsay walking off near 6pm local time with a rousing two-under par 69.
He said: “I just wanted to go out and enjoy the golf course as it really is in fantastic condition and making some good putts, as I did out there, makes a big difference.
“Though in saying that standing on the tees with the swirling winds and all those cork trees, it is one course where you are never quite comfortable.
“You just have to stay focussed, pick your shot and try and execute and hopefully more of that tomorrow.”
A good start for @RamsayGolf.
The Scot is currently outside the top 116 in the Race to Dubai.#ValderramaMasters pic.twitter.com/3pZ11k1Mdm
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 18, 2018
Ramsay arrived on the Costa del Sol lying 124th on the Race to Dubai but with six ‘affiliate’ players to come off the list the Scot is now effectively lying 118th but still needing to be 110th or higher for automatic 2019 Tour membership in this the last ‘regular’ event of the season.
And boosting Ramsay’s goal of keeping his card of an 11th straight season was chatting with three-year old daughter, Olivia back in the families Edinburgh residence.
He said: “I don’t what way to approach this week as I have never been in this situation but then I spoke to my daughter the other morning on ‘Facetime’ and she is happy and heathy.
“So, as long as she is happy and healthy then dad can go out and golf, and it allows me to go out this week and give my 100% as I do each and every week.
“If I can play to my capabilities around here, I can definitely get into contention for the title.”
England’s Ashley Chesters birdied his closing two holes to grab the clubhouse lead with a five-under par 66.
Borders David Dyrsdale posted a one-over 72 and with the former Crail Battle Trophy winning duo of Conor Syme and Bradley Neil posting 73s while Duncan Stewart posted a horror 79.
Marc Warren, level par after eight holes, and Stephen Gallacher, and one-over after nine, were forced from the course due to poor light.
