Ramsay ends 2009 with victory

The win, which comes three years after his historic US Amateur success, makes him the second highest ranking Scottish golfer on the world rankings behind PGA Tour star Martin Laird.

The 25 year old from Aberdeen won the South African Open at Pearl Valley Golf Estates, coming from five behind with a best-of-the-day 65 and then beating Indian Shiv Kapur with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden death play-off.

“There’s no greater feeling than winning and I’m just a flood of emotions – I’m holding back the tears,” said Ramsay after receiving the second oldest trophy in golf.

The pair tied on 13-under 275 but the former Scottish amateur star landed the first prize and all its benefits. The win secures Ramsay a European Tour exemption that runs until the end of 2011 – when he was on the green in two at the 601 yard 18th and two putted.

“Things just went for me,” he added. “But I am a lot more positive now – I go out believing and thinking I can win.”

Impressively, Ramsay played the final round without dropping a shot. He went to the turn in just 33 blows and picked up shots at the tenth, 12th, 15th and 17th to surge into a strong position.

The last of those, a 14-footer following a superb approach from the rough over water, brought Ramsay into the joint lead and, after he had missed a 25 foot birdie chance on the last, Kapur stood on the same green with a 12 foot putt for his first European Tour title but missed.

Denmark’s Anders Hansen, Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and Italian Edoardo Molinari all could have joined the play-off with a closing eagle but failed.

Ramsay went into the event ranked 240th in the world and the victory will take him just inside the top 120.

That makes him the second highest-ranked Scot behind US PGA Tour-based Martin Laird. Their last winner on The European Tour was Alastair Forsyth in Portugal 19 months ago.

It was not until he came fourth at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in October that Ramsay made sure of keeping his card – but he now has a priceless two-year exemption.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered