BATTERING RAMSAY
DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
NIGEL BENN’S boxer son Conor has revealed his dad ignored his pleas to pull the plug on a remarkable ring return at 55.
Benn will fight for the first time in 23 years when he takes on fellow former world champion Sakio Bika, 40, in Birmingham on November 23.
The Londoner has not taken a punch since his second defeat by Steve Collins in 1996 but insists he has passed a host of stringent medical tests.
He was denied a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control and will instead fight under the British and Irish Boxing Authority, which was founded just three years ago.
And Benn Jnr, who has won RICHIE RAMSAY kept his foot on the gas after a barnstorming BMW PGA on a day the local lads delivered at the Dunhill Links Championship. The Saltire fluttered proudly in the gentle breeze as the home players pinned their colours to the mast in Fife. Ramsay flew under the radar at Kingsbarns – one of three courses used for the pro-am event – as a 65 left him two off leader Justin Walters and heading up the 11-strong Scots pack on seven under. PGA Tour star Russell Knox is one back after a 66 on the Old Course, so too is Calum Hill – the No.1 on Europe’s second-tier Tour – after an eagle three at Kingsbarns. Paul Lawrie triumphed on the £4million event’s debut in 2001 before Stephen Gallacher did so in 2004 then Colin Montgomerie the following year in what was the last tartan triumph.
And Ramsay, whose tied sixth last week was his second best finish of the season, said: “I am just feeding off Wentworth and riding that wave.
“But the big thing was keeping my energy for the seventh week in a row. My confidence was high and after I missed a couple of short putts early on, birdieing the last two was a bonus. “If I want to win one tournament the Scottish Open and the Dunhill are right up there. I used to come down here when I was seven or eight and watch the guys play. It’s cool to play in it myself and be proud I shot a good