….. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Richie Ramsay has dusted down his tools of trade and is ready to jump straight into the deep end of a 16th straight season on the DP World Tour here at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.
Ramsay will have a scorecard in his back pocket for a first occasion since sharing 16th place two months ago, and ‘up the road’ at the 2022 season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Richie Ramsay on the Yas Links range eager to kick-start a 16th straight DP World Tour season. Exclusive photograph @TourMiss
The Scot’s last season effort of 19th on the money list was a best by a dozen places on the Race to Dubai, in recording a fourth career victory along with a third place in going so close to success at the British Masters.
Ramsay packed the clubs away over the Christmas/New Year season ahead of returning to Dubai last week, and his first steps of shaking off any rust in his game.
And while it was quality time off from competition in spending time with his young family, it was also a great time to reflect on his achievements in season 2022, and also it certainly was not ‘sitting back in the lounge, putting his feet-up’ for some six weeks or so.
Ramsay said: “I have been undergoing a lot of gym work and it was only last week in heading out to Dubai, I was back into hitting balls.
“The break was good also to look back on what was a good season it was for me last year, being in contention in coming down the stretch twice and to get a win was great.
“Of course, two wins would have been fantastic (smiling) but it’s always nice to sit back and chill out knowing it has been a winning year.”
Ramsay, who’ll turn 40 mid-June, is planning to start his ’23 season playing four events in succession – this week’s Abu Dhabi tournament, next week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the Ras Al Khaimah Championship and before teeing-up in the February 9th starting inaugural Singapore Classic.
And there’s change in Ramsay’s headwear this year as he’s signed a deal with Callaway Golf, and the clubs he’s used for so many years, to now wear their cap.
He said: Yes, I’m now also a Callaway cap player (smiling).
“I’ve been using Callaway clubs for a long while now. I’ve never been one to go too much down the rabbit hole with too much equipment changes straight off the bat heading to a new season, especially on this golf course.
“I also have my other main sponsors still supporting me, and that’s been very good for me to have partners which are an essential part of being out on the Tour”.
And there’s also a new full-time caddy in England-born Jason Palmer, who formerly caddied for Chris Paisley.
Paisley said: “I had a few rounds on Richie’s bag last year, so I know his game and it’s good for me to now be officall working full-time.
“Like Ritchie, I’m also excited heading into this new season”.
