Richie Ramsay has saved the Home of Golf huge embarrassment brilliantly qualifying as a lone Scot for next week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
For a second year running Ramsay has won through to the year’s second Major with scores of 65 and 70 in a 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath in Surrey.
Richie Ramsay does Scotland proud in qualifying for the 2018 US Open.
Ramsay, 34 had birdied six of his closing seven holes in his opening round to be then sharing second place and roared into the second round with three birdies in opening eight holes only to take a double-bogey at the ninth.
Ramsay then bogeyed his 11th but thanks to playing partner, Matthew Southgate the Scot managed to draw strength from competing alongside the Englishman and with both finishing at nine-under par.
Ramsay said: “Matthew and I played together so I thought we pulled each other along with Matt playing lovely on his closing back nine making so birdies so that kind of pushed me along when I was a little bit unsteady there near the turn.
“The golf course just seemed to suit both our games and it’s a brilliant outcome for both of us and really looking forward now to heading to Shinnecock Hills.”
Ramsay made his U.S. Open in 2007 as the then U.S. Open champion and since turning pro he has teed-up at Walton Heath striving to return.
The now Edinburgh-based Ramsay went to the 2011 U.S. Open as a first reserve but the only thing he celebrated in a week Rory McIlroy won a first Major was the Scot’s 28thbirthday as no-one withdrew.
It was just last year, and also after qualifying at Walton Heath, Ramsay made his U.S. Open debut as a pro.
Though Ramsay’s main concern was getting back to Edinburgh having headed straight from Italy where he contested last week’s Italian Open to London.
Six other Scots teed-up at Walton Heath with three – Stephen Gallacher (72 & 70), Conor Syme (68 & 74) and Marc Warren (74 & 69) – falling short of being among the leading 14.
Three others in David Drysdale, Scott Jamieson and Chris Doak withdrew without playing both rounds.
