DUFF TO TAKE
Ramsay pain as he throws away Masters title by hitting water on final hole
SHATTERED Scot Richie Ramsay spoke of his agony last night after blowing his big chance of glory at the Betfred British Masters.
The Aberdonian led by a shot playing his 72nd hole – but saw his hopes of a first title in seven years sunk when he duffed his approach to the final hole at The Belfry and found water.
That opened the door for Dane Thorbjorn Olesen to step in and an eagle-birdie finish for the second day in a row saw him claim his sixth Tour title.
Ramsay’s double-bogey finish saw him tie for third with fellow Scot Connor Syme and South African Justin Walters.
And the 38-year-old, who had started the day four shots off the lead, admitted it had been the worst possible time to come up with one of the worst shots of his entire career.
He said of the 4-iron effort: “It was just a horrible yardage and I kind of didn’t fully commit as I was aiming to ride it on the wind and I just duffed it.
“I did everything right bar one shot and it was the one shot that killed me.
“I made a putt on 14 from more than 40 feet for a birdie 2), but I didn’t make many others.
“I felt like I could have had more breathing room, but I didn’t hit the shot I needed to – simple as that.
“Mentally it was very, very good but ultimately, you don’t get the job done and that’s what matters.
“It’s probably the biggest kick in the teeth I’m going to get in my career.”
While Ramsay’s finish saw him slip down the leaderboard, Syme’s lifted him up it.
The 26-year-old Fifer birdied three holes in succession from the 15th to climb to eight under, two shots behind Olesen.
The Dane went into the last day leading by three after his sensational end to his round on Saturday.
But with three to play yesterday he was two off the lead after bagging just one birdie.
But again he came up trumps again on the 17th and 18th – where he holed a curling, downhill 35-foot birdie putt – to close on 10 under par and snatch the glory away from Sweden’s Sebastian Sodeberg by a shot.
Three years ago, Olesen’s golf career looked to be over after he was charged with sexual assault and urinating in an aisle on a British Airways flight.
He was suspended by the
Tour but when he was cleared of all charges in December he was allowed back to play.
Five months later he is a champion again and the 32-year-old said: “This is a massive tournament, with so many great former champions, and to win here is a great achievement.
“The crowds this week have been amazing, and you always get great support in Britain, and I just got so much support all week.
“It’s going to be a quiet celebration with my partner, and my little son”.
Sodeberg had come from five shots back to post the clubhouse lead on nine under after a 68 and the 31-year-old was on the practice range preparing for a play-off before news of Olesen’s stunning, final hole birdie came through.
There was some consolation for Ramsay as he took a step nearer to a US Open slot.
He and Syme are joint third in the four-event qualifying table for Brookline next month.
The top ten in the table after the next month’s Porsche European Open will win a place in the field on June 16.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Euan McIntosh claimed a maiden
Legends Tour win with his oneshot success at the Riegler & Partner event in Austria.
The 53-year-old posted a final day 73 for a 10-under tally to hold off South African James Kingston at Murhof.
Turnhouse ace McIntosh said: “It’s fantastic to get a first professional win.
“I slept okay last night but I didn’t play very well today. I was nervous at the start, and everything I tried to do just didn’t seem to come off.
“But I was watching the scoreboard the whole way round so I kind of just knew how to get it over the line.”