Richie Ramsay feels out of depth in Indian Open

Scotlands Richie Ramsay in one of the huge bunkers at Dlf Golf and Country Club in New Delhi, which is hosting the Hero Indian Open.

The Aberdonian was among several players to take to social media to post photographs of some of the hazards players are facing on the Gary Player-designed layout at DLF Golf & Country Club in Delhi in the build up to it staging the event for the first time.

“Few big bunkers here in India,” wrote Ramsay in one post on Twitter, where nine-time major winner Player responded by saying: “Enjoy the challenge Richie. Good luck and play well.” In reply to that, Ramsay said: “Thank you Mr Player, looking forward to embracing the test of golf this week.”

Later in his practice round, Ramsay posted another picture, this time of the 16th hole, a par-3 measuring 250 yards. “Island green, very much like Sawgrass, but more like  6/7 iron,” he commented on that.

Overall, the three-time Tour winner described the course, which has taken over from the event’s traditional home at Delhi Golf Club, as a “big challenge” due to it being “tight, with firm slopey greens”.

Fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher also put up a picture on Twitter showing the view of the 17th green from the fairway, saying “spot the pin”. That’s the hole English player Rebecca Hudson used to highlight problems that can be caused by a course set up when she was one of the speakers at the R&A’s pace of play seminar in St Andrews towards the end of 2017.

Level-par had been the winning total over 54 holes in the Women’s Indian Open played there earlier that year while only four players finished below par as India’s Aditi Ashok won that event with a three-under-par aggregate last season.

Ramsay and Gallacher are being joined by Scott Jamieson, Duncan Stewart and Scott Henry in a field that has Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrera-Bello and home hero Anirban Lahiri as the star attractions.