Open spot for Richie Ramsay after rousing finale

Richie Ramsay of Scotland qualified for the Open. Picture: Getty

The Scottish contingent in this week's 145th Open Championship has been bolstered after Richie Ramsay secured a last-gasp spot at Royal Troon, where the Aberdonian will join Sandy Lyle, Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, Russell Knox and Marc Warren in the field for the season's third major.

Ramsay used the £3.25 million Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart to secure a sixth appearance in the Claret Jug event, finishing joint sixth behind Swede Alex Noren to secure an Open spot in  Ayrshire along with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Italian Matteo  Manassero.

“It is fantastic to have qualified for The Open,” admitted Ramsay after signing off with a rousing five-under-par 67 in the Highlands to finish just three shots behind Noren as the Swede led from halfway to claim his fifth European Tour title and a cheque for £583,330 with a one-shot victory.

“I don’t think I’ve done myself justice in my previous appearances, but this time we’ll be taking our little daughter Olivia, who is four-and-a-half months old, and I think she will enjoy her first major. It’s more of a treat for her.”