Ramsay returns to winner’s circle at Cazoo Classic

Richie Ramsay ended his seven-year wait for a fourth DP World Tour title as he holed a tricky par putt at the 18th to win the 2022 Cazoo Classic by one shot.

Overnight leader Julien Guerrier had been the man to catch for most of the day at Hillside Golf Club in Lancashire but birdies at 14, 15 and 17 saw Ramsay head to the last with a one-shot lead.

The 39-year-old Scot missed the fairway off the 18th tee but managed to give himself an eight-foot par putt, which he duly holed to sign for a closing 69, finish the tournament on 14 under par and return to the winner’s circle for the first time since his Trophée Hassan II victory in 2015.

The win will help Ramsay banish the memory of his near-miss at the British Masters in May, where a closing double bogey ended his chances of victory at The Belfry.

Local favourite Paul Waring finished alone in second on 13 under thanks to his Sunday 70, with Guerrier in a five-way tie for third another shot back alongside Marcus Kinhult, Robin Petersson, Daan Huizing and Grant Forrest.

Ramsay, who won €297,000 and moves to 20th in the Race to Dubai ranking, said: “The biggest thing for me was I made a promise to my daughter, and I don’t break promises to her. I said I would get her a trophy and this one’s for her. It just feels unbelievable. I’ve had some bad times over the last couple of years, but I kept believing, I knew my game was good. I know about what happened at The Belfry, but this was links golf and I feel like I’ve always got an advantage when I play links golf.

“There’s nothing better than holing a putt under the gun – when it matters, when the tournament is on the line. For me, winning is everything, it’s what matters in the sport. I felt the nerves coming down the stretch, played great, and just to play well under the gun. Obviously, I got a bit emotional there at the end, but I haven’t won since my daughter was born and that’s six years.

“It’s just great to get over the line. What a feeling as well, the way I did it, to hole that putt on the last. It’s just hours and hours of practice and it comes down to one shot and I managed to do it under the gun. It doesn’t matter what happens now, I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”

For the final leaderboard from Hillside, click here.

The post Ramsay returns to winner’s circle at Cazoo Classic appeared first on Golf News.