Ramsay frustrated by lack of sharpness in short game

Richie Ramsay admitted he should have been happy with 12-under and an eighthplace finish in the British Masters at Close House, but was still thinking about what might have been, writes Steve Scott.

“You think 12-under’s not bad, but then I can count nine shots that I left out there,” he said after watching playing partner Paul Dunne pull away from the field with his final round of 61.

“I didn’t hole anything outside five feet today, and it feels I did it maybe three times all week, which is why I’m standing here feeling frustrated.”

Ramsay left a birdie putt on the first in the jaws, and that was the story of his one-under 69.

“If I’d putted all right, I’d have had a shout,” he said.

“Paul played great and I don’t know whether I could have caught him anyway, but I’d like to have tried.

“My patience is getting to the end because I feel I could win. Ball striking has been great, I was flushing it at times. I just need to be sharper around the greens and make a few more putts.”

Stephen Gallacher and Marc Warren are feeling the pace of this late-season rush going into the Dunhill Links but were buoyed by strong weekends.

Gallacher’s second successive 66 yesterday took him from the cut mark on Friday night to a share of 15th, despite his energy levels being low from the bout of chronic sinusitis that caused him to withdraw in Portugal.

“I’m shattered, to be honest,” he said after yesterday’s 66. Saturday’s round took just two hours 46 minutes playing on his own at the head of the field – just 16 minutes longer than it took the final group to play the first nine yesterday.

“I’ve just finished the course of antibiotics so I won’t be playing any practice rounds next week, maybe just take a look at the third at Carnoustie and possibly eight holes at St Andrews.

“I knew both these weeks were going to be really tough, exhausting, mentally and physically so I’ll just take it easy.”

His aims to secure a top 10 finish at the Dunhill, get into the Rolex Series Italian Open the following week, and keep pressing for a place in the Final Series events in Turkey, Sun City and Dubai.

“I’m most pleased that I was mentally so good this week. I wasn’t feeling 100% so I had to play within myself a lot, had to dig in to make the cut, and then had a strong weekend,” he said.

Warren shot a 68 yesterday to tie his friend on 10-under and a share of 15th, and his fatigue comes from his eighth event in a run of 10 in a row.

“I’m looking forward to a day off now,” he said. “But next week the courses are straightforward, we know where we’re going.”

Warren feels in control of his game after a frustrating summer of shoulder issues.

“I’m doing a lot of things really well now,” he said. “I have better control of the shots I’m hitting off the tee, technically my swing is getting better and better, and I think I’m seeing the results of that on the golf course.

“I feel that as long as I commit to it, even my bad shots will be very playable.”

Scott Jamieson finished with a 68 for six-under, David Drysdale moved up with a three-under 67 to be tied for 44th, but Duncan Stewart had his worst round of the week – a 72 – to slip back.

“If I’d putted all right, I’d have had a shout. RICHIE RAMSAY

Picture: Getty. Richie Ramsay felt he was held back by his short game, but still managed to finish 12-under.