Triple European Tour winner Richie Ramsay reckons the European Tour could be hard-pressed to find an alternate date for the postponed Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
The Tour announced Friday the cancellation of June’s BMW International Open and the following week’s French Open plus the postponement of the Scottish Open to be held again at the Renaissance Club just to east of Gullane.
And while the news comes as no surprise, it is disappointing for the soon-to-be 37-year old who considers The Renaissance as his second home.
Richie Ramsay could be staring at his next event being the Omega European Masters where in 2012 he captured a second on now three Tour wins
“The Scottish Open postponement didn’t come as a real surprise,” said Ramsay in speaking with BBC Radio Scotland.
“But at the same time, I think everybody would agree that it’s the correct decision. It’s a very tough situation but safety comes first.
“It’s good that it’s been postponed and not cancelled, but a lot of these things are outside our control at the moment.
“The reality is that as much as you pencil in dates, nobody knows.
“It’s tough because weather is an issue. We have a shorter season because we’re so far north, and then there’s a scramble for dates at the moment, everyone’s trying to pencil in dates and see if they can fit in”.
And while the Tour has postponed the Scottish Open the big question, and given eight prior events to the Scottish Open have also been postponed, is when do you play the Scottish Open and with all but one week (August 20-23) to the end of November booked already to host an event?
“I understand the PGA Tour are looking at June for a restart and I think that’s very ambitious. But we’ve got a different set of circumstances in Europe with degrees of regulations in countries.”
The continuing cancellation of events for likes of the current World No. 230 will make for a ultra-long competition absence.
Indeed, when you take-in the cancellation of The Open the next ‘regular’ European Tour event for Ramsay will be the 27th August commencing Omega European Masters in Switzerland.
His last teed-up in the 8th March concluding Commercial Bank Qatar Masters where the Scot finished mid-field in Doha.
Given Ramsay is not exempt into the back-to-back WGC – FedEx St. Jude (July 30-Aug 2) and the following week’s PGA Championship (Aug 6-9) it will mean a competition absence of 24 weeks.
And if the Switzerland is to be Ramsay’s next event then there will be a real spring in his step having won the 2012 edition of the Alpine event by four strokes.
Until then Ramsay along with wife, Angela and daughter Olivia are keeping busy in the current #StayHomeStaySafe restrictions.
“I get more opportunity to spend with my daughter and at home,” he said.
“I get to do things that golfers don’t get to do all the time, like sit and have a nice breakfast with your family in the morning and then going out for your exercise, playing games in the garden and getting on top of a little bit of work outside.
“I’m making sure my body’s good so that, when we do come back, I’m ready to go.”
