The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Richie eyes 2016 Ryder Cup
RICHIE RAMSAY knows that Gleneagles is probably beyond him, but there’s a little reminder every time he looks at his bag of the NEXT Ryder Cup venue.
The 30-year-old two-time tour winner is making a late start to try and make Paul McGinley’s Ryder Cup team due to an ankle injury that cost him the lucrative events in the Gulf at the end of last year and beginning of 2014.
Having made his way tentatively back with a top-15 finish in Morocco after two months out, Ramsay knows he has to have as many as two career wins to be at Gleneagles. Instead, the headcover for his rescue club commemorates 2016 in Hazeltine, a venue with which he has possibly even closer connections.
It’s where he had possibly the two most significant occurrences of his life in the same week in 2006; winning the US Amateur title and meetingAngela, the Hazeltine girl who is now his wife, for the first time.
“I like the look of the cover first and foremost but it’s a reminder for me not to take my eye off the ball,” he remarked.
“I’m a realist so for me my chance of making the team for Gleneagles is past unless I got on a hot streak where I win the Scottish Open to get inThe Open and win that as well. Never say never but…”
Ramsay carefully maps his career years in advance, believing that every success is due to this.
“The way I look at things — winning the Omega Masters in Switzerland, for instance — is that it wasn’t a coincidence,” he said.
“That was all a result of going to live in Atlanta, improved my chipping and that sort of thing, all part of the plan to get better.
“When I get to 40 or 50 I want to know that I’ve done everything I possibly can to be the best I can be. I believe the Scottish Open is a tournament I can win — it’s just a matter of putting in the hard work.
“A few guys— Rory McIlroy for example — have unbelieveable talent. The rest of us have to work at it and if you look at the stats most guys peak in their mid-30s.
“It’s a mixture of having experience and the game to do it. I’m 30 so I’m coming into my peak period in the next five years so that takes in 2016.”
With that in mind, just as most of the golfing world clamours to get to Georgia, the Ramsays are relocating back to the UK.
“The main base will be Edinburgh going forward and we are just in the middle of working things out,” he said.
“Angela loves the city and I love being there. If I’m concentrating on Europe the next few years travelling back and forth from America is an issue and, with the injuries I’ve had over the last few years, jumping on a flight toAtlanta drags a lot more out of you than you think.”
The ankle came through its first test of recovery at the Trophee Hassan in Morocco a fortnight ago with a top 15 finish, and Richie’s at the Spanish Open this week feeling more confident.
“I had a few concerns in Morocco — as much mentally as physically,” he admitted.
“To walk four rounds was really impor- tant, and it showed me that my game is still there, even after two months off. I’ll now be playing Spain and three in a row in Asia and that’s going to be the real test, where I’ll discover if I’ll be able to play a full schedule.”
What won’t be compromised, however, is the Scottish Open on his home course of RoyalAberdeen in July.
“It is going to be toughest but also easiest tournament I’ll ever play,” he said.
“The support will be incredible but focusing and not worrying about what everyone else is going to expect from me there is going to be really tough.
“People will expect that I’ll be able to turn up and play the course blind, but I’m no longer the 14-year-old that knew every yardage on the course. With a few return trips I’ll hopefully be that kid again.
“If I won the Scottish Open this year, I could pretty much retire the day after. For the rest of my life I’d be happy to live off that. I know for Paul (Lawrie) the major was the Open Championship but for me it’s the Scottish.”