Ramsay fights back after costly lost ball

ON-FORM Richie Ramsay displayed his fighting qualities to finish third at Valderrama after seeing his Andalucia Masters title hopes dashed by a dozy spectator.

The 28-year-old Aberdonian, who also finished third behind Sergio Garcia in last week’s Castello Masters, moved level with the Spaniard with four holes to play but then hit a poor tee shot at the par-3 15th.

The ball was eventually found just after the five minutes allowed for the search, costing Ramsay a double-bogey 5 and his chances of beating Garcia.

But the former US Amateur champion was delighted with the way he responded to that bitter disappointment, holing an 18-foot birdie putt at the last to finish on his own in third. It earned Ramsay a cheque for around £164,000 and lifted him to a lofty 29th in the Race to Dubai.

“It was a fantastic week – and wasn’t far off from being an unbelievable one,” said the Scot. “I got really unlucky at the 15th but the way I responded to that was fantastic.

“With Sergio playing so well behind me, I was right up against it over the closing holes, but I responded with a lot of calmness and aggression towards the pins to try and make it happen. To make a birdie at the last was fantastic and I’ll take third place.”

Asked about the lost ball, he added: “I was trying to rip through a 4-iron but it slipped through my hand and just caught the bottom groove. There was a spectator who saw where it finished but, unfortunately, he didn’t tell us until the five minutes were up.

“It’s one of those things. But I’m sure there one of those days when I’m knocking on the door on the back nine and I’ll get the break that Karma now owes me,

“It was literally seconds after the time was up that he found it, but I took it on the chin. I’m a bit of a fighter and I responded the way I wanted to over the closing three holes.

“It’s been a good two weeks and now I can try and finish in the top 30 in the Race to Dubai to get into The Open [next year].”

Stephen Gallacher is up to 54th in the Race to Dubai after he closed with a 73 to finish in a tie for 12th on 287, while David Drysdale boosted his hopes of finishing in the top 115 on the money-list, climbing to 101st after tying for 28th on 291.