Dual delight for Ramsay as he shares lead in India

SCOTLAND’S Richie Ramsay and James Morrison of England both shot five-under 66s yesterday to share the first round lead in the Indian Open.

On a day which saw a string of good performances despite a steady wind, seven players were just one stroke behind the leaders in the Asian Tour event.

The group comprised Thai pair Chapchai Nirat and Panuphol Pittayarat, Finland’s Kalle Samooja and Jaakko Makitalo, along with India’s Shiv Kapur, Javi Colomo of Spain and Myanmar’s Zaw Moe. Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won the Macau Open last week, also kept up the local interest in a group of four at 68.

There was further good news for Ramsay yesterday when his stunning eagle en route to victory at the Omega European Masters was voted by fans of My European Tour as Shot of the Month for August.

A first dropped shot of the final day at the short 13th at Crans-sur-Sierre could have derailed his title bid, but on the very next hole Ramsay regained complete control and rubber-stamped his second European Tour triumph in spectacular fashion. After laying up 120 yards out on the par five 14th hole, the Aberdonian fired in a perfect wedge that landed just past and to the right of the hole, before biting and spinning back into the cup for a priceless eagle three.

It was a sensational shot and a significant moment in the story of the tournament as Ramsay went six shots clear with four holes to play – a lead that proved insurmountable as the 29 year old eventually scooped the €350,000 first prize by four strokes.

“It was just what I needed, and it all came down to the endless hours of practice routines I went through over the winter,” Ramsay said.

“Nobody’s watching you and it can be a lonely business sometimes, but when you hit shots like that when you need them most, you know it’s all been worth it.

“When you hit a shot like that, there’s no better feeling; the adrenaline rush you get is incredible.”

Ramsay’s pin-point approach secured a comprehensive 60 per cent of the public vote, with Rory McIlroy’s birdie putt on the final hole of the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island coming in second with 18 per cent, while South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen was third with eight per cent of the vote thanks to his chip-in for birdie from off the 16th green during the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

August’s winner will now go into the season ending Shot of the Year competition alongside the previous seven monthly victors, following on from Sergio Garcia (January), Martin Kaymer (February), Paul Casey (March), Louis Oosthuizen (April), Luke Donald (May), Padraig Harrington (June) and Ian Poulter (July).