Scots duo sparkle at Dunhill to help raise home hopes

Published on Friday 2 October 2009 22:55

THE Scottish scepticism that Richie Ramsay believes is thick in the air could be blown away this weekend. Not just because of the gale-force winds that were being forecast to sweep across the country today, though.

At the halfway stage in the 3million Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, things are looking promising from a Scottish perspective. Ramsay is sharing the lead with two Belfast boys, Rory McIlroy and Michael Hoey, and Alastair Forsyth is sitting just one shot back alongside English pair Ross McGowan and Simon Dyson and the Finn, Mikko Ilonen.

Taking up where he had left off when opening with a 67 at Carnoustie, Ramsay signed for a six-under-par 66 at St Andrews – his best effort from the back tees on the Old Course. "When I was at Stirling University, I played in a few matches against the R&A, but they were off forward tees – and that feels a bit like cheating," said the 26-year-old Aberdonian.

Ramsay is 11-under-par after 36 holes, having dropped only one shot so far in the tournament. That was caused by a three-putt at the eighth, but seven birdies, including three on the spin on both the front and back nines, certainly kept the smile on his face.

"You have to try and be positive all the time and I think sometimes Scottish scepticism can creep in occasionally," he commented. "It's almost as though people can be waiting for you to trip up. There's been a lot written about Scottish golf but I think we have some fantastic players and I think more should be written about how well we are doing.

"Okay, we are waiting for someone to come along and win a big tournament, but I think we can be negative too quick. I think we need to go out there and tell people that we are proud of what we have achieved with wins in the Eisenhower Trophy, European Championship and, not long ago, the World Cup.

"We are a strong golfing nation and we should feel positive about the plans that the SGU are implementing and the R&A have helped with over the past few years. Let's not just sit back and moan about it – we should be positive and do something about it."

Forsyth, the last Scot to win on the European Tour when he triumphed in the Madeira Island Open 18 months ago, backed up his compatriot after he moved into contention with an eight-under-par 64 at Kingsbarns, where the Paisley man made the most of a flat-calm day on the Fife coast.

"It may be the view of other people but I don't think the Scottish players see the current situation as being a glass half-full scenario," said Forsyth, who kick-started his charge up the leaderboard with an eagle at the long third. "I think it's more the perception of other people that golf is so poor in Scotland and we are not doing this and we are not doing that.

"We all know what we are capable of and, if we can get people playing well, and also more often, then you'll see more Scottish winners."

While delighted to find himself within touching distance of the lead, Forsyth, who has clearly found a new lease of life since he started to work with English coach Pete Cowen, insisted it was too early to be thinking about winning this weekend, particularly when he was set to play Carnoustie today in what forecasters were predicting would be the toughest conditions of the week.

"The one thing I've learned over my ten years on Tour is that when your game is bad, you feel it is never going to get better," said the 33-year-old. "But, on the other side of the coin, when it's good you feel as if it will never be bad again.

"I've enjoyed a steady improvement over the last month or so and right now it really feels good again. It would obviously be great to win an event like this, not only due to the prize money but also the prestige. But, after just two rounds and with Carnoustie still to play, it is too early to start thinking like that. If I'm still there or thereabouts tomorrow, I will be really pleased."

Adding to an excellent second day for the home contingent, Steven O'Hara and Wallace Booth both moved to seven-under for the tournament – just four off the lead – after splendid rounds of 66 and 65 at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns respectively.

A former winner, Paul Lawrie, who is one-under, has his work cut out to be in the top 60 by the end of today, as does Colin Montgomerie on one-over. However, Marc Warren (-5), Alan McLean (-4) and Keir McNicoll (-4) are all in a decent position to give Ramsay and Forsyth some backing over the weekend.