Exclusive: Ramsay Celebrating A Double ‘Down Under’ Career Delight

2 weeks ago by 0

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay this week is celebrating a double ‘Down Under’ career delight in contesting the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Melbourne.

Not only is Ramsay making his debut in the co-sanctioned event but it is also a first occasion since this very week in 2008 that Ramsay was last in Melbourne for his first tournament as a full member of the then named European Tour.

The 2008 SportsBet Australian Masters was staged at the Huntingdale course and located just a 10-minute drive from this week’s main host venue at Kingston Heath.  It was the third event of the 2008/09 wraparound schedule.

The then 25-year-old Ramsay had contested nine European Tour events since his debut as an amateur at the 2006 Barclays Scottish Open and with the 2008 Australian Masters a 10th of now 416 DP World Tour appearances.

The 2006 US Amateur champion had won twice on the 2008 secondary Challenge Tour to earn full main Tour membership though it would not be a dream start in Melbourne with Ramsay sitting out the weekend rounds.

And while that first visit to the Victorian capital did not go to plan Ramsay has proudly for every one of the intervening 15 years retained full DP World Tour membership.

Ramsay said: “It’s definitely been a long time and nice also to be competing in my maiden Australian Open.

“I was down here the week prior to last week’s Australian PGA and managed to play Kingston Heath and also the West Course at Royal Melbourne and Peninsula Kingswood.

“They are three perfect golf courses though to play Royal Melbourne’s West course was very special and to see the MacKenzie influence was rewarding.

“So, I would say from a Scottish influence in the history of the game it was nice to see how that unfolded with all the Sandbelt courses in Melbourne.”

Though as he prepared for this week’s first Australian Open showing, the now 41-year-old Scot also spoke how much the game he loves has changed since last in Melbourne as a 25-year-old Tour rookie.

Ramsay said: “Considering the way the golf game is going with increasing distance that’s not helping me but I feel like I am bucking the trend a little bit.

“What I need to do is just stay in my own lane and do things that I do well, and also accept there is going to be weeks where guys will overpower the host course.

“Though last week’s Aussie PGA was a big bonus for me with the golf course playing soft after all the rain so that didn’t help the bombers in hitting shorter clubs into normally firmer greens.

“So that’s golf and you just have to do your best every week”.

Ramsay had spent the week prior to last week’s Australian PGA getting familiar with this week’s Kingston Heath while also playing Australia’s top-ranked West Course at Royal Melbourne.

And while enjoying being back ‘Down Under’ he was quizzed on a less serious note what he thought about the humble Aussie meat pie.

He said: “The Aussie meat pies are really good though I do fancy the pies you get at the halfway house at the Renaissance Club, as they’re tough to beat (smiling)

“The halfway hut at Gleneagles is also pretty good as it has all sorts of treats though the Aussie meat pie is pretty nice

“What I do like is the coffee in Australian, and especially the coffee here in Melbourne is off the charts while there’s coffee shops everywhere.”

Joining Ramsay this week is Aberdonian David Law and with the top three-finishers earning entry into next year’s 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.



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