Daughter Olivia has given Richie Ramsay extra motivation

Seeing trophy cabinet sparks pride
Richie Ramsay is looking forward to the new seasonRichie Ramsay is looking forward to the new season
Richie Ramsay is looking forward to the new season

Richie Ramsay is hoping to give his daughter Olivia some new successes to savour after seeing her enjoy one of his past title triumphs.

The Capital-based player visited Hazeltine, where he won the US Amateur Championship in 2006, during a visit to Minnesota with American wife Angela and young Olivia over Christmas.

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“It was cool,” said Ramsay of that experience, having posted a photograph on Twitter at the time of Olivia looking at a trophy cabinet in the clubhouse with a caption saying: just checking out dad’s work.

“She’s at an age where she understands things a bit more. I showed her the trophy they’ve got in the cabinet and we also had putting competition on the green they have downstairs in the clubhouse. That kind of thing is cool.”

Ramsay, a three-time European Tour winner, starts out his 12th consecutive campaign on the circuit in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

He’s among eight Scots teeing up in the Rolex Series event, with Bob MacIntyre, last year’s Rookie of the Year, having pulled out due to a niggling hand injury.

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“I didn’t touch a club for about a month as I had a health thing I had to take care of, which I did,” said the 36-year-old.

“Taking a break was great but, when I started back, I was hitting it badly. However, I did a few things with the wee man (long-time coach Ian Rae) and it is right there already, which is a massive positive.”

As is the fact he is starting out the 2020 season campaign with a new bag, albeit the same make of clubs in them.

“I have been playing Callaway equipment for the last two years, but I didn’t have a deal with them,” he revealed. “They spoke with me and it was a no-brainer.

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“The least amount of clubs I’ve had in the bag is 13 Callaway clubs as I really like their equipment. Although the bag has changed, the clubs are pretty much the same and I feel as though I have the best stuff for me.”

Meanwhile, Grant Forrest is making his first appearance since becoming a Haddington resident, having moved into a house there towards the end of last year.

“Although there is a lot of learning going on at the moment, it’s exciting to be a homeowner,” said the former Scottish Amateur champion, who had previously been living with his mum and sister in North Berwick.

“I wanted to stay on the east side of Edinburgh with having the golf courses there and Haddington is ideal.”