The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ramsay masters injury challenge
Richie Ramsay shrugged off his recent shoulder injury to shoot a five-under 67 in the Betfred British Masters, relishing “a proper tournament on a proper course”.
The 38-year-old Scot is one off the lead at the Belfry shared by Thorbjorn Olesen and Ryan Fox, just a week back from more than a month off resting a shoulder problem.
But it’s the feeling of being back among decent crowds at an acknowledged venue in an important event that gets Richie’s juices really flowing again, he reckons.
“I think it helped that it felt like a proper tournament,” he said.
“The Brabazon is a big golf course and a good strength of field. It makes you feel as though you need to do something today and turn it on.
“It was really pleasing to do that and also have a good mindset, which was the most important thing.
“It’s good for the soul. When I played my first nine holes back in Edinburgh after the time off I thought: ‘This is brilliant, it’s great to be playing again and not have any pain.’”
An MRI scan had shown bursitis and “exceptional inflammation” in Ramsay’s right shoulder. Rest, rehab and physio followed over five to six weeks.
“Just getting old,” he said. “Things start to creak and pain starts to happen. The guys in the physio truck and (injury specialist) Tim Swan, who I spoke to in Spain last week, have been brilliant.
“But also when I was injured I had time to talk with people around me and said: ‘This is what I want to do.’
“I need to be all in it or not in it at all. I have an idea of what I want to do for the next two years and honestly no idea after that. But everybody’s been really supportive and pushing towards the same goal
“It makes things a lot easier when you’ve got people around you who are positive and make a difference for you.”
Ramsay finished strongly with two birdies at 16 and 17 and a key up-and-down at the 18th, rolling a 10 footer after he needed everything to get up to the pin high off to the right.
“That’s an important one,” he added. “Because (if) you don’t make it you leave two or three under and wondering: ‘Why didn’t I make more of that?’
“I also hit a nice fouriron down the flag at 12, and there was a nice chip-in at the eighth.
“Even though we had a late tee-time, there’s a lot of people out there. You enjoy that more, you want to play well with a decent turn out.
“I think I play my best golf when we play our biggest tournaments and that isn’t a coincidence.
“The other thing for me is playing on good golf courses. I like the courses that make you uncomfortable. You are going to get better if you put yourself in uncomfortable positions.”
Olesen carded six birdies and no bogeys in a superb 66 matched late in the day by New Zealand’s Fox, who birdied his last three holes.
The Dane said: “I feel as if I’ve had chances to be in contention but just haven’t finished it off, really. I need to be up there a bit more to feel comfortable.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve really been able to be up there.
“I should have some years left in me – hopefully the best years. I still have a lot of goals and that’s why I’ve started to work hard again and I want to get back to winning and back up the world rankings.”
Lee Westwood, who is both a former winner and host of the event, had to settle for an opening 72 after dropping shots on his last two holes, while former Masters champion Danny Willett – who is hosting for the second straight year – returned a 73.