What’s in a name? For Richie Ramsay, seeing his name up on the fringes of the top-20 at the halfway stage of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is certainly more pleasing on the eye than the vision that greeted his een on his own golf bag. “I noticed it was spelled ‘Ramsey’ when I was on the 15th,” said the Aberdonian of the mishap by those who are responsible for etching names of players onto vast tour bags in big bold type. “That’s the English spelling. I’ll get that changed.”
Given that Ramsay’s round had veered off course with a potentially crippling triple bogey seven on the eighth, you could have forgiven the 33-year-old for feeling decidedly brassed off when he marched off the 18th to record a two-over 74.
A late flurry, which produced a brace of birdies at the 17th and 18th, ensured that Ramsay’s supper would taste much better as he finished with a one-under total of 143. He may be six shots off the lead but with 36-holes to play, Ramsay is heading into the weekend with a spring in his step.
The cracking 3-wood he launched into the 18th from some 232 yards was one of those pearlers out of the screws which always leaves a smile on a golfer’s face.
“The great thing was my attitude over the last couple of holes,” said the three-time European Tour winner. “I wasn't playing to make the cut, I was playing to make birdies. I just feel if I can keep playing that way, especially the way the course is set up, I can move up on the weekend. The first part of the job is done.”
He may not be the longest hitter on the tour but Ramsay’s accuracy is one of his main attributes and the West Course is a nice fit for him. “I know the course has changed but some of the players who have won this recently like Rory (McIlroy), Matteo (Manassero) or even Simon Khan, they are not one-dimensional players,” he added. “They are all players who can move the ball, work it and have a good thought process with strategy. It is not just about taking the driver and bombing it.”
Ramsay’s fellow Scots, Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale, both made the cut on two-over but Marc Warren, who lost out in a play-off for the BMW PGA title in 2013, made an early exit with a three-over aggregate. Russell Knox and Paul Lawrie also joined the Scottish casualty list.
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