Richie in mood for Aussie challenge

Ramsay aims for victory

Published:

DETERMINED: Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay believes Huntingdale course suits his game.

RICHIE Ramsay today set his sights on a maiden European Tour victory in Australia this week.

Last year’s Challenge Tour winner and world ranked No1 amateur is determined to prove he can compete against the big boys of world golf, and there is no better place to start than in the glorious spring sunshine of Melbourne’s Huntingdale course.

Ramsay said: “I just want to get my first European Tour event under my belt.

“I feel it’s a course my game is suited to because it’s steady on the greens so if I get my putter going then I feel there is definitely a good score to be had at Huntingdale.

“At the start of the week I thought mainly about making the cut. Being out here you want to be in contention and set your goals high, but also achievable at the same time.

“My aim is to have two good rounds tomorrow and Friday and to be in contention going into the last stretch on Sunday.

“If you take a few chances it’s a course that will reward you so that’s the attitude I’m taking into the tournament.”

Two wins last season secured his place on the big tour but Ramsay believes he can achieve far more than just consolidation this year.

“I had a great year last year and I achieved everything I set out to achieve,” Ramsay said.

“I was very dedicated so if I can keep that going then success will follow.

“I know I’ve got to improve my short game to make that happen but it’s something I’m working hard on and it will improve over time.

“You have to have a good short game to compete against the world’s best players so I’m going to keep chipping away to rectify that.”

Ramsay has the twin ambitions of retaining his tour card and finishing in the top 100 players on golf’s Order of Merit by the end of the 2008-09 season.

While his ambitions are easier to talk about than achieve, the 25-year-old former Scottish amateur champion doesn’t lack in confidence.

“When my game is on I can beat anybody in the world I am playing against,” Ramsay said.

“I’m not a good loser at anything I’m doing and it’s that self determination that stood me in good stead in the past few months of my career.

“It’s a realistic goal for me to believe I can retain my card and finish in the top 100 on the Order of Merit this year.

“You don’t putt in practice with a six-footer to make the cut – you have a six-footer to win the Open and to win titles.

“There is nothing better than winning.”