Learning Curve

Reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Ramsay Taking Analytical Approach To 2007 Season

March 21, 2007

By Stuart Hall

Richie Ramsay comes to learning quite naturally. His late grandfather was a headmaster at a primary school in Aberdeen , Scotland , and his father is on the faculty at a nearby university.

Richard Ramsay converses with a Rules official during the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals in which his caddie touched his line of putt. (USGA Photo Archives)

So it comes as no surprise that Ramsay's own examination of Augusta National Golf Club, the venue for Ramsay's first major appearance as reigning U.S. Amateur champion, has been both extensive, if not exhaustive.

In preparation for the Masters in two weeks, the 23-year-old Ramsay has played Augusta National between eight and 10 times since January. He also has picked the minds of leading Great Britain amateurs who have played in the Masters dating back to Peter McEvoy , who in 1978 became the first British amateur to make a Masters cut.

"He's definitely not going to leave anything to chance if he can prepare for it mentally or physically," said his father, Iain, who lectures at Robert Gordon University . " Phil Mickelson said it took him 10 years to figure out how to play Augusta . Richie is trying to figure it out in 10 rounds."

When Ramsay arrived at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska , Minn. , for the U.S. Amateur in August, his name stood out. He had won the 2004 Scottish Open Stroke Play and the 2005 Irish Amateur Stroke Play, and had been a member of the 2005 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team that was narrowly defeated by the United States of America , 12½-11½  at Chicago Golf Club.

Still, Ramsay knew there were skeptics who did not believe he had the wherewithal to win or the mental mettle to endure the seven-day grind of stroke and match play on foreign soil. After all, not since Findlay Douglas in 1898 had a Scot won the U.S. Amateur.

"But within myself I knew I was really strong mentally and I think I proved the point," he said. "It showed to me that I should always have that belief because I'm more than capable of competing with the best around.

"I know some people were shocked I won it, but it shows me the belief and confidence I had; there was substance to that because I went out and beat the best players around."

Ramsay's 4-and-2 dispatching of American John Kelly in the 36-hole championship final was not only a display of supreme hubris, but of skilled precision. Ramsay hit 30 of 34 greens in regulation on that Sunday, including 15 of 16 in the afternoon round.

In previous rounds, he showed nerves every bit as sturdy as shipping rope. In the quarterfinals, Ramsay's 17-year-old caddie touched his line of putt on the 17th green. Ramsay incurred a loss-of-hole penalty that squared the match against American junior stalwart Rickie Fowler, but he eventually won on the 21st hole. The next day, leading 2 up through 15 holes against Wake Forest All-American Webb Simpson, Ramsay grounded his club in a hazard at the 16th hole, incurring another loss-of-hole penalty. But he still managed a 1-up victory.

In both instances, Ramsay pushed on unfazed.

"When it comes down to the pressure situations, I think I feed off a couple of things," he said. "Not necessarily from golf, but life in general. As you grow up, you encounter situations. They may not be the best situations, but you have got to just stand up and deal with it. I was still in a situation where I knew I could go out there and win. It was a mistake and it kind of set me back, but it wasn't like that I actually lost the match. I was still in there with more than a chance to win."

Iain Ramsay remembers when his son was not always as resilient. Early in Richie's playing days, he grew increasingly frustrated by his inability to beat his brother Robin, four years his elder. Then there was a Scottish boys' competition at Ramsay's home club, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. He entered as the No. 1 seed and sailed into the semifinals, where he stood on the 18th tee trailing by a hole.

Ramsay's tee shot took an awkward sideways bounce into the water - match over. Ramsay took off his hat and shook his opponent's hand.

"He didn't let the disappointment get to him," said Iain Ramsay . "I can imagine that Richie was laying in his bedroom days later thinking about it. That's when the disappointment would have kicked in. He learned to handle himself well in times of disappointment."

These are happier times, though.

Winning the U.S. Amateur did not completely sink in until returning home and being feted by members at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, the world's sixth oldest golf club, where Ramsay often caddied to make extra money. Perks soon came his way in the form of an honorary membership to the club - only the fourth in the club's history and the first given for playing ability - and his own personal locker, over which a nameplate reads " Richard Ramsay , U.S. Amateur champion, 2006."

Ramsay has also done one sitting for a portrait featuring him and the Havemeyer Trophy, which sits in the club's trophy cabinet. His will be the only champion's portrait hung in the club.

A sports marketing major who has finished his studies at Stirling University, Ramsay fully understands what winning can do for him globally, but only if he adds to the victory. He admits he would like to redress the balance of the Walker Cup finish two years ago in September at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, but how well he does in the year's first three majors may expedite his turning professional. Ramsay's Amateur victory earned him exemptions into the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.

The past seven months have also given Ramsay a glimpse into what being a recognized personality is like. He has received congratulatory letters from Peter Alliss and Colin Montgomerie , and a "well done" and handshake from Paul Casey , the latter two former GB&I Walker Cup performers.

"I know it only takes a minute or so to do something like that, but it means an awful lot," he said.

Ramsay hopes that one day he can reciprocate.

Stuart Hall is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usga.org.