RICHIE RAMSAY has taken such a liking to being a new father that it has him primed to capture victory in either Ireland or at Wentworth later this month.
Ramsay jets back into Edinburgh today, buoyed by a final round 66 Topwin Golf and Country Club to grab a share of sixth place in the Volvo China Open in Beijing.
The Scot posted seven birdies, including three in succession from the sixth, in an equal low score in 22 European Tour rounds this season. Ramsay’s strong showing in the Chinese capital was his best strokeplay tournament effort since a seventh in the same event a year ago.
He hit all but one of the greens in regulation over the last day while he needed just 26 putts and to average 28.5 over the four days.
The effort also has seen Ramsay jump some 40 spots to 59th on the Race to Dubai money list.
Ramsay has decided not to defend this week’s Hassan Trophy 11 title in Morocco and will, insteady, be at home for a fortnight with wife, Angela and new daughter, Olivia.
His next events will be the May 19th starting Irish Open hosted by Rory McIlroy and the following week’s BMW PGA Championship at Tour HQ.
“I just played lovely. I shot six under, but I felt there was more out there and it was a really nice way to finish with a great birdie on 17,” he said.
“I am looking forward to Ireland and Wentworth as I feel my game is just where I want it to be and trending upwards.
“I don’t think a win is that far away and it is just about improving little things like my chipping around the greens and picking up shots, but that will come with time.
“Seeing my name on the board can only help with confidence and that’s probably been lacking of late, a little bit.
“I will take a lot of confidence from this result to Ireland and Wentworth.
“With so much going on in my life at present, what with our first child Olivia being born, that’s going to be a positive. I think that is only going to help my golf and can only help me going forward.
“I don’t think another win is that far away. I would love to win for my daughter, as it would be pretty neat to take a trophy home for her.
“I know when I get back from China there will be a quick handover of her as Angela will be looking for some time off. I will be babysitting for a good few days when I get home.”
China's Li Hao-tong produced a stunning final round to become the second successive home winner of the tournament as Chile's Felipe Aguilar finally cracked under the pressure.
Li carded a flawless 64 to finish 22 under par and become the second Chinese player to win a European Tour event on home soil, following in the footsteps of 2015 champion Wu Ashun.
The 20-year-old recorded three top-10 finishes in seven events on the European Tour last season, including losing out in a play-off for the Shenzhen International, but had struggled to replicate such form on the PGA Tour or second-tier Web.com Tour in 2016.
"The start of this year has given me a lot of hard times," said the world number 237, who will climb around 100 places in the rankings.
"Even though I worked hard, I still played badly, especially last week. I worked hard there and couldn't control my ball. I was not even thinking I could make the cut this week.”
Li began the day two shots off the lead and, despite three birdies in the first seven holes, was briefly three behind when Aguilar went one better with birdies at the first, third, fifth and seventh.
However, Li birdied the eighth, 10th and 11th to draw level for the first time and - although Aguilar also birdied the 11th to edge back in front - Li made the most of a stroke of good fortune on the 15th, where his wayward drive bounced out of thick rough and finished on a cart path, entitling him to a free drop.
From there, he produced a superb pitch to four feet and holed the birdie putt. In the group behind, Aguilar saw his own birdie putt from similar distance catch the edge of the hole and stay out.
The decisive moment came in dramatic fashion on the 16th as Aguilar completely mishit his tee shot and found the water 30 yards short of the green, the resulting double bogey dropping him two shots behind.
Moments later, Li tapped in from two feet for birdie on the 17th to effectively seal victory, although he only appeared to become aware of his three-shot lead when he looked at the leaderboard - at some length and in apparent disbelief - on the 18th.
"On my third shot on the 18th, it's the most nervous I have been in my whole life,” he said. “I just tried to relax myself and I'm really, really happy.”
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