Richie Ramsay aims to make his comeback in Morocco

The Aberdonian, who last teed it up competitively in the Turkish Airlines Open in November, played his first nine holes at the weekend since damaging ligaments in a fall while out running in Atlanta on 12 December.

“Morocco is the target to get back and I feel comfortable I am on track to make that as my swing feels really good and I’m out in the US at the moment trying to build up to playing four rounds again,” he said.

Ramsay had high hopes of making a strong start to his 2014 campaign in the Gulf Swing after signing off last season with a closing 64 to finish joint-18th in Turkey. “The last few months have been very frustrating, especially considering the way I finished the season and the fact I was really excited to get started again in the Middle East,” admitted the two-times European Tour winner.

“But I have tried to take the positives and work hard on my putting. I have learned a lot over the last few months, so hopefully more patience and perspective will be forthcoming.

“Getting back playing again is great, but the competition is what I have really missed. Peaks are fantastic. However, the lows define you more, you find out if you really want it. I’m just watching the WGC Match Play at the moment, so that is good motivation.

“I always knew it would take time to recover from such an injury. It’s just a case of trying to keep it simple in both training and practice as well as surrounding yourself with positive people you trust.”

As Ramsay champs at the bit, the action continues to come thick and fast for some of his compatriots – both in the amateur and professional ranks.

Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young, the overnight leader, slipped to third but still qualified comfortably for the match-play phase of the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Hermanus in the Western Cape.

A second-round 73, which included a double-bogey 7 at the 11th, for a five-under-par, totally opened the door for home player Jovan Rebula to claim the top seeding.

But, with the exception of a couple of holes, it was a two solid days’ work for Young, as was the case with Cawder’s Jamie Savage as a second-round 68 saw him qualify on three-under.

On the pro scene, Ross Cameron carded a four-under-par 68 – one better than John Gallagher – to sit in the top ten after the opening round of the Red Sea Little Venice Open, the second leg of an Alps Tour double-header in Egypt.