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Journalism of Courage
With a brother working as a doctor in Kathmandu and his own golf promotion work in Sri Lanka,there are enough sub-continental connections for Scotsman Richie Ramsay. His Indian link,though,is not one that will endear him to his host country this week. Ramsay,in Gurgaon to play the Avantha Masters,ran through to the top of the leaderboard with a last-day charge and practically stole the South African Open title from Shiv Kapur in a play-off this past December. Ironically,the two have been paired together for Thursdays first round. Reminded of the play-off on Wednesday,all Ramsay is willing to let on is a smile. But talk of the title itself and that turns into a full-blown grin of delight. The title was a childhood dream coming true, Ramsay says.
Kapur says the camaraderie with the Scotsman exists beyond that one bad memory,but he would still relish the chance of going one-up. The first two rounds are really not a big deal,but if were paired together at the weekend,I would love to get even, the Indian laughs.
Having done that in just the second tournament of the new season,it also gives Ramsay the chance to focus on the golf rather than off the course matters. Letting things away from the playing of the game was a mistake I used to make a while back. But I think Ive become a lot more mature on dealing with that lately, he says. Ramsay,though,refuses to accept the infamy of bad temperament and bad manners that he has been slapped with in his career in one case he was reprimanded by Padraig Harrington. I think a lot of that talk was just bad media. I agree I have always hated to lose,but dont believe everything that has been written.
Best behaviour
To India,though,he has brought nothing but his best behaviour. I think it DLF Golf amp; Country Club is a lovely course, he says. Though,for me,getting used to the grainy greens is a challenge as we dont have any grain back home in Scotland.
The 26-year-old would probably need some last-minute improvisation in dealing with the green grief,but there is no experimentation planned for the dinner table. No spicy food for me. I think I will stay off the curries, Ramsay laughs.
The Aberdeen-born had sat at his grandfathers knee,watching him craft wood clubs,before he took to the game. Just a few years later,he had become the first Scot in over a century to win the US Amateur Championship,in 2006. Now he wants to take it one big step at a time. Get into the top 100,make a mark in the Majors,get into the Ryder Cup team. Thats three big targets,but all in good time, he says.
For now,while he is here,an attempt at some improvement in his personal Indo-Scot relations would be timely: It would be great if an Indian could win this week. You need faces to keep a game going in a country,and you have all your European regulars and now the youngster,Bhullar. I think a home winner will be perfect for the country.
