Golf: Double date is on cards for Ramsay

Published on Friday 5 November 2010 14:41

LOTHIANS-BASED Richie Ramsay is hoping to have some company when he tees it up in the Dubai World Championship later this month.

The Scot sealed his place in the 60-man field after finishing third behind Italian Francesco Molinari and world No 1 Lee Westwood in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

He's delighted his hard work in recent weeks has paid off in securing his top target for the year and says the support of his American girlfriend, Angela Hudinski, has been invaluable.

"She has two jobs and works really hard but still finds the time to support my golf," said Ramsay after picking up a 232,000 prize. "Hopefully she'll be able to come to Dubai as a little treat and a thank-you for all of the support she's given me."

The South African Open champion, who closed with a 71 in the company of Ernie Els, will join Stephen Gallacher in the Dubai field and is looking forward to his next two events, in Singapore and Hong Kong.

"The goal at the start of the season was to make The Race to Dubai," he added.

"All in all, it was a fantastic week (in Shanghai] and I'll be able to pitch up in Singapore this week with no pressure on me and just go ahead and play - it will be terrific."

Meanwhile, Lothians star Raymond Russell can add the French Open to his 2011 schedule after winning the Allianz Tour's order of merit title at the weekend.

The Prestonpans pro, who will return to the European Tour next season, finished tenth in the third-tier circuit's Grand Final at Barbaroux.

That was enough to clinch the rankings crown as well as an invitation to the lucrative French showpiece.

Russell, 38, had been sitting in a share of second with a round to play and boosted his title bid with a two-under outward half which was highlighted by a hole-in-one at the short eighth.

But the former Cannes Open champion spilled four shots coming home in a two-over 74 for a four-under 212 and finished four strokes behind Victor Dubuisson, who beat Edouard Dubois in a play-off after both players had tied on 208.