DP World Tour: Richie Ramsay keeps promise to daughter and is top of the Hillside at Cazoo Classic

Matt Smith — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 05:23:38 +0000

By Matt Smith
Richie Ramsay ended his seven-year title drought by claiming a one-stroke victory over Paul Waring in the DP World Tour Cazoo Classic at Hillside Golf Club in England.

The Scotsman holed a tricky par putt at the 18th to take the crown. Overnight leader Julien Guerrier had been the man to catch for most of the day but birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th saw Ramsay head to the last with a one-shot lead.

The 39-year-old missed the fairway off the 18th tee but managed to give himself an eight-foot par putt, which he duly holed to sign for a closing 69, finish the tournament on 14-under par and return to the DP World Tour winner’s circle for the first time since his Trophée Hassan II victory in March 2015.

The win will help Ramsay banish the memory of his near-miss at the British Masters in May, where a closing double-bogey ended his chances of victory at The Belfry.

Local favourite Waring finished alone in second on 13-under thanks to his Sunday 70, with Guerrier in a five-way tie for third another shot back alongside Marcus Kinhult, Robin Petersson, Daan Huizing and Grant Forrest.

“The biggest thing for me was I made a promise to my daughter, and I don’t break promises to her,” Ramsay said. “I said I would get her a trophy and this one’s for her. It just feels unbelievable. I’ve had some bad times over the last couple of years but I kept believing, I knew my game was good.

“I know about what happened at The Belfry. But it’s links golf and I feel like I’ve always got an advantage when I play links golf.

"Winning is everything. It's what matters in this sport."@RamsayGolf | #CazooClassic pic.twitter.com/TQWEYyopw7

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 24, 2022

“There’s nothing better than holing a putt under the gun — when it matters, when the tournament is on the line. For me, winning is everything, it’s what matters in the sport. I felt the nerves coming down the stretch, played great, and just to play well under the gun. Obviously, I got a bit emotional there at the end, but I haven’t won since my daughter was born and that’s six years.

“That one’s for Olivia. Hopefully she’s watching. [My wife] Angela’s been brilliant. She’s never given up on me, sent me a message this morning telling me that she was really proud of me in whatever I accomplish. It’s just great to get over the line. What a feeling as well, the way I did it, to hole that putt on the last. It’s just hours and hours of practice and it comes down to one shot and I managed to do it. It doesn’t matter what happens now, I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”

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Poulter punches his ticket to “favourite Open venue” Royal Birkdale in final qualifying

Kent Gray — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 07:18:59 +0000

By Kent Gray

Ian Poulter earned a return to the scene of his most memorable major performance as the final 15 spots for the 146^th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale were filled Tuesday.

The European Ryder Cup legend clinched one of three spots in final qualifying at his home club of Woburn after carding rounds of 70-68. It sets up a return to Royal Birkdale where he finished second to Padraig Harrington in 2008.

“Job done,” the 12-time European Tour winner told TheOpen.com. “Obviously going back to Birkdale after what happened in 2008 is special. You know I thought I had that 15-foot putt (on the 72nd) to maybe win or get in a play-off and then my Irish friend (Padraig Harrington) decided to go bananas on the last five holes.

Job done today @WoburnGC securing a spot in @TheOpen. Woburn was magnificent as always. @JackSinghBrar is going to be a star. Well played. pic.twitter.com/UdhKA8Qmnn

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) July 4, 2017

“It was a great week, my best in a major. All my family and friends were there to see me play and after I finished Katie told me she was pregnant with Lily, so it was happy days that week.”

Poulter now has the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open starting at Portstewart GC Thursday and next week’s Scottish Open at Dundonald to prepare for the year’s third big.

“I would say Birkdale is my favourite Open venue because of 2008 and I’m looking forward to competing there. It’s going to be a busy run. It will be my fourth tournament in a row but it’s about managing my energy levels. But as soon as I get there I will be pumped for the week.”

India’s Shiv Kapur, who made a special 4167-mile round trip from his home in Delhi to play, took the top spot at Woburn with scores of 71 and 65 for an -8, 136 total. England’s Toby Tree earned a start in the biggest championship of his career by tying Poulter for second on six-under-par.

Congrats to @shivkapur62 & @TobiasTree, who join @IanJamesPoulter in qualifying from Woburn for #TheOpen ? pic.twitter.com/Ht7GTGVZkb

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 4, 2017

Sweden’s Jens Dantorp left Woburn frustrated after receiving a two-shot penalty for having 15 clubs in his bag on his opening hole of the day before going on to finish one shot outside the qualifiers, TheOpen.com reported.

Elsewhere, Matthew Southgate won his final qualifying event for the third time in four years and clinched back-to-back wins at Royal Cinque Ports at Deal.

The Englishman won at Sunningdale in 20145 before going on to miss the cut at Royal Liverpool. He failed to qualify for St Andrews the following year and instead spent the week of The Open in recovery from a testicular cancer operation.

Royal Cinque Ports confirmed qualifiers – @SouthgateMatt, @RobDin29 & @AustinConnelly9 – congratulations guys. See you at Royal Birkdale ? pic.twitter.com/PA0qmCk7kD

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 4, 2017

Southgate made an emotional return to The Open with a T12 finish at Royal Troon last year, just missing out on an automatic trip to Royal Birkdale.

Visit TheOpen.com for the full list of qualifying results from Gailes Links, Hillside, Notts Hollinwell, Royal Cinque Ports and Woburn.

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DP World Tour: Richie Ramsay keeps promise to daughter and is top of the Hillside at Cazoo Classic

Poulter punches his ticket to “favourite Open venue” Royal Birkdale in final qualifying