FROM despair to where? Richie Ramsay will provide the answer to that particular poser over the next two days at Royal Birkdale. Links golf in squally conditions is such a capricious beast that positions of promise can soon come unstuck – as compatriot Martin Laird found out to his cost on day two of this Open championship – but Ramsay undoubtedly finds himself in a much happier place than at the same juncture five years ago.
The Aberdonian only missed the cut at Royal Lytham by a single shot but it was symptomatic of a wider malaise affecting his game at that time, Ramsay describing it then as “the lowest point of my professional life”. There was little scope for optimism.
Speaking after a round of 70 that left him second in the clubhouse as he strolled off the 18th green, he could hardly have come across as a more relaxed figure.
“That was some of the best golf I’ve played this year, maybe in a few years,” he beamed. “I just loved being out there. It was brilliant. It’s easy to say that when you’re playing good golf. I wanted to compete with the best in the world in a major and I feel like I’ve done that the first two days. Whether I do that over the next two days, I really don’t know, but I’ll just give 100 per cent. I’ll try and be the best I can be and take it from there.
“You grow up dreaming you’ve got a ten-foot putt on the final green to win The Open and fortunately I’m now in a position to compete for it which is something I probably haven’t done over the last few years.”
Being a new parent also helps retain a sense of perspective, with his daughter Olivia now 16 months old and regularly demanding of his attention.
“It’s probably calmed me down a bit. I definitely don’t take things for granted as much. I’m a little bit more patient. Olivia teaches me a lot. And I think it settles you down as a person.
“It kind of takes your mind off probably playing golf. When I was younger I definitely thought too much. I was very one-dimensional. If golf wasn’t going well, things weren’t going well. But now I kind of try and set golf aside.
“Last week I had a bit of a bad finish and I walked in to the players’ lounge and Olivia caught me from about 20 yards away, her hands went up and there was a smile on the face, and that just cheers you up. It’s brilliant. When she smiles, I smile. It’s a great feeling having her here this week and giving you a huge perspective.”
If there is any pressure resting on his shoulders heading into the weekend then it mostly stems from others. Not since Paul Lawrie lifted the Claret Jug in 1999 has Scotland had a major winner. For a nation that prides itself in giving the game to the world, it has been a long and frustrating wait.
Ramsay was just a teenage schoolboy when fellow Aberdonian Lawrie won at Carnoustie 18 years ago but it is a memory that has stayed with him. He would not go as far as to guarantee another Caledonian triumph this weekend but, similarly, insists he will not be cowed by the challenge.
“Any time I play I’m representing my country which is a big thing,” he added. “Having the saltire on the yellow leaderboard – it stands out. I remember watching Paul win the Open. I think he birdied 17 in the playoff. I remember watching that vividly. So it was definitely something that I noticed and picked up on and used that as motivation for me to do well. I think there’s a good crop of young Scottish guys coming through. We know there’s a void at the top and we want to fill it.”
Laird, like Ramsay, had started the day on two-under and bristling with promise but a second round score of 79 sends him home to the United States quicker than anticipated.
“I wouldn’t want to play this every day, let’s say that,” he admitted. “It’s fun coming back. But I’ll take playing golf in Arizona most of the year rather than links golf.”
The only other Scot to return for the weekend is David Drysdale whose five-over total was enough to squeeze through, while Russell Knox, Paul Lawrie, and Sandy Lyle all failed to make the cut.
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