Interview: Richie Ramsay, golfer

FOR long enough, it was, rightly or wrongly, easy to take a negative view of Richie Ramsay. During a notable amateur career that included a US Amateur title, a Walker Cup cap and a host of other titles, the now 28-year-old Aberdonian’s consistently fine play was marred by not-so-creditable tales of less distinguished behaviour both on and off the course.

A Prestwick hotel room was apparently left in a state somewhere beyond disarray but short of unusable. And it remains debatable whether Ramsay will ever be welcome back at Western Gailes Golf Club following some less than savoury exchanges during the 2007 European Team Championship.

It didn’t take long for Ramsay to ruffle a few feathers amongst the professionals either. So annoyed was one former Ryder Cup player by Ramsay’s on-course histrionics that he was moved to privately remonstrate with the young Scot after their round at a Challenge Tour event. And, playing with then defending champion Geoff Ogilvy and world No.1 Tiger Woods at the 2007 US Open, Ramsay’s excessively ponderous pace of play oh so slowly drove his distinguished companions to near distraction. For Richie, it seemed, golf was all about him and anyone else could go to hang.

But that was then. Happily, there are now many obviously positive aspects to this driven young man’s career. Based on an admittedly unscientific and hardly comprehensive survey, his reputation amongst his peers is much improved. As is, more importantly, his all-round play. Currently ranked the 98th best golfer on the planet, Ramsay finished a commendable 28th on last year’s European Tour money list on the back of as many as six top-ten finishes. He’s a pretty good bet to add at least one title to the South African Open he won back in 2010.

“Last year was a successful one for me,” he says with some justification. “I played steadily through the summer and made a lot of cuts, not just by one or two shots. And even one of the cuts I did miss – at the Portugal Masters – was down to illness. So, although things were going well, I wasn’t really getting myself into contention. Until the last couple of months of the season I didn’t have many top tens and never really challenged in the last round of an event.

“Towards the end of the year that changed, though. I was able to get myself into contention more than once. Which was pleasing. So, all in all, I had an impressive season, one in which even the low points were pretty good. I was able to get the most out of my game almost every week I played.”

One of the biggest influences on that pleasing aspect of Ramsay’s golf throughout 2011 was the stunning overall performance of Luke Donald. Physically similar to the world No.1 and so destined to, in his own words, “never be a bomber”, the Scot has long taken time to study just how Donald goes about his business.

“I feel like last year I made the most of what I do have,” says Ramsay. “Luke is a big inspiration in that regard. He is the best example of what can be achieved if you work on the right areas of the game. He is deadly inside 125 yards and so is a great model for me. I played with him a couple of years ago in Shanghai. There wasn’t much between us off the tee. But, on the back nine in one of our rounds, his short game was amazing. Four times he got down in two shots with a 9-iron or a wedge in his hands. Then he got up-and-down three times when he missed the green. So he saved seven shots. It was an education to watch him.

“I’ve always paid attention to Luke, though. I missed the cut at the Scottish Open a few years ago, but got permission to walk inside the ropes over the weekend. I followed Luke for much of that time. What impressed me was how simple he made it all seem. Nothing really stood out but he was just so effective when it counted. He shot four or five under without really breaking sweat. He was just so consistent from tee-to-green. I remember thinking how similar his driver swing was to his wedge swing. It was like he was out there playing with his mates. There was no stress.”

The news that the shorter shots are the ultimate keys to good scoring comes as no surprise, of course. But, for relatively short hitters like Donald and Ramsay – the former is a bit above average and the latter “about average” off the tee – turning three shots into two on a consistent basis is an absolute must if they are to compete successfully with the monster drivers. Recognising that fact, Ramsay spends a significant amount of off-season time in the US, specifically at the Golf Club of Georgia where he is an honourary member, working on his putting, chipping and pitching.

“Being able to practise my short game in good conditions at this time of year is huge,” he points out. “Two years ago I played in Abu Dhabi behind Ian Poulter, who is based in Florida. He played really well with me watching – and struggling. In contrast to Ian, I was never comfortable over the ball and on the greens. I had no momentum and felt like I was wasting my time being out there. I just wasn’t ready to play because the weather in Scotland had been so bad over the holidays that year.

“When I finished I spoke with Martin Kaymer, who has a base in Arizona. He had been practising and playing while I was shivering at home. And that was what made up my mind. I spoke to the people around me for advice and they agreed that moving to the US for practice was a great idea. So I did. This year I feel like I’ll be able to hit the ground running. I won’t have to write off the first week anyway.”

Certainly, the benefits which Ramsay speaks of clearly began to kick in last year.

“In a general sense, I’m happy with what I achieved during 2011,” he continues. “I showed improvement right through the bag, which was nice after all the work I put into my game. And, over the last month or so, I’ve been focusing even more on that scoring zone inside 125 yards. I’m not sure what the exact percentage is, but about three-quarters of the game is played inside that distance from the hole.

“Improving in that area means I can get myself round a course so much better these days, even when things aren’t going as well as they might. It’s a bit like when I was young and playing with guys bigger and stronger – I have found a way to compete. Distance doesn’t worry me, even if there are places on tour where the disadvantage is just too much. I have no problem with a longer hitter gaining an edge, but there are times when that edge becomes a massive advantage. I look at some courses and know I’m not going to be able to win.

“I tend to do better on courses where the scoring is on the higher side of average. At places like Wentworth, Valderrama, Hong Kong and the French Open I know I have a better chance, especially if they are playing firm and fast. But, on the other hand, there are places where a top-ten finish represents a fantastic performance for me.”

Still, Ramsay is not lacking ambition. Should things go to plan – or better – in the coming months, he is seriously considering a year-end trip to the PGA Tour’s perhaps soon to be obsolete tour school.

“My ultimate aim is to play both the European and PGA Tours,” he reveals. “I’m happy and comfortable in Europe but I’d love to play in America. The window of opportunity is closing too, if the PGA Tour changes the qualification rules so that you have to play one year on their second circuit before making it to the PGA Tour. Which is why – if I’m well established on the European Tour towards the end of this season – I will give the qualifying school over there a try.

“I see that as something worth trying. I’ve got a base in the US. My girlfriend is American. And I’ve played a lot of golf there. So why not? I’ve always been one who prefers to try and fail rather than not try at all. There would be some scheduling compromises to make in the short term – I’d have to miss some big events in Europe – but that’s where my thinking is at the moment. It’d be a calculated risk.”

True. But if this talented young man keeps improving at his present rate, not a huge one. Bet on him to make the best of it, whatever happens.