A Contented Ramsay Avoids The Rabbit Holes Taking Route 66 In Bahrain

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A contented Richie Ramsay avoided more of the early season ‘rabbit holes’ to take ‘Route 66’ and put himself into contention on day one of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Golf Championship.

Ramsay, 41, battled the blustery but bright conditions, missing just one fairway in posting eight birdies in a six-under-par 66 on the host Colin Montgomerie course in the oil rich nation.

The four-time winning Scot ended the day in a four-way share of third place and five shots adrift of England’s Brandon Robinson-Thompson who set a new course low by three shots with an 11-under 61.

Robinson-Thompson, 32, graduated from the secondary Hotel Planner Tour and posted two eagles and eight birdies in only his fourth full DP World Tour start, and after missing the halfway cut in two of his three new Tour events.

 

Robinson-Thompson, and winner in Scotland last year at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge at the Newmachar course near Aberdeen, was asked if he thought about shooting 59: “After about nine holes (smiling).

“I hit it to four feet at ten but unfortunately, I missed that one. It was just an accumulation of a lot of good decision-making and execution”.

Ramsay’s effort is his lowest score since an opening 65 last September high-up in the Swiss Alps and he capped his Bahrain effort brillinatly chipping-in for birdie from nine yards shy of the par-5 ninth green.

He said: “It sounds funny, but I focused on one thing today. At the start of a New Year, it’s easy to go down a lot of rabbit holes and also now without a club or cap contract I’ve got a lot of options with equipment.

“That can lead to having a lot of stuff on your mind, so I just focused today on what I needed to do, which was having a clear swing thought and not having too many things going on in your head.

“That’s what was pleasing and, though it sounds funny, I just feel content.

“As well, I’m quite old. There are a lot of guys out here who were born after 2000 and you do think to yourself ‘what is my goal?’

“I’ve got a long-term goal for 2028 that I am kind of keeping secret, but the short-term goal is to try and be out here and enjoy myself and try and work hard and, if I can win, it will give me time and time is so precious as it means I can build a schedule I want and spend a little bit more time at home and feel that when I come out, I am a little bit fresher”.

Ramsay also remarked his delight playing alongside fellow Scot Scott Jamieson who signed for a two-under 70.

He said: “It was nice to play with Scott, as I obviously know him and Gav (Green) has been out here a while as well, so it was a good three-ball.

“Gav is quite long off the tee, but I was just trying to play my own game, focus on that and not worry about what anyone else was doing and not give up any energy to that”.

Connor Syme posted a three-under 69 but after nine opening pars but then birdieing holes 10 to 15 before a closing hole bogey.

Jamieson, as mentioned, signed for a two-under 70, Ewen Ferguson a 72 and Grant Forrest a 73.



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