Golf: Red-shirting won’t leave Ross at a loss

The Royal Burgess star’s last competitive outing was the Leven Gold Medal in early  August, just before he was named as reserve for the Home Internationals.

He’s been practising hard at the University of Houston and is heading to Florida soon to play in the South Beach International in Miami.

“This year at university I’ve been red-shirting, which means I’m still fully part of the team but I just don’t travel to tournaments,” said Ross.

“I wanted to save my final year of playing eligibility – you only get four over here – for next year so I won’t have as many classes to do and  hopefully my game should be in better shape, too.

“From that point of view it’s been hard not competing.

“My last comp was the Gold Medal, but I’ve been practising just as hard, if not harder,  and I’m looking forward to playing the South Beach International.”

Ross, a former Lothians Championship runner-up, won his first SGU Order of Merit event when claiming the Sutherland Chalice at Dumfries & Galloway in the summer.

He’s in the Scottish transitional squad for 2012-13 and is hoping the SGU can help him secure a spot in the prestigious Jones Cup at Sea Island, Georgia, in February.

“If that doesn’t come off, I’ll try to qualify for the Shell Houston Open in March, as it is at our university’s home course, Redstone,” he added.

“Then I’ll be coming home earlier than usual to play  the Lytham Trophy etc  onwards.”

One of the reasons Ross moved from Michigan State, his first stop in the US, to  Houston, was so that he could be closer to his coach, Kevin Kirk.

“I’m looking forward to competing again as I can see real progress in my game,” he said. “Kevin and I have been working together now for almost  three years and it’s coming along.”