One fears for state of the treadmill at a city centre hotel in Newcastle this morning because Richie Ramsay was not entirely a happy man despite his three-under 67 at the British Masters at Close House.
The leading Scot on the Race to Dubai might have been reasonably happy to have recovered from an early double-bogey seven in his first round to stand only four off the lead, but instead he found cointinual frustrations on the greens.
“I’ll probably go the gym tonight,” he warned jokingly. “There’s still some aggression left.”
On more sober reflection, the much-mellowed Aberdonian decided it was “a good day’s work”.
“It was solid,” he said. “I know I made five birdies, but I could have made eight. I pretty much hit it in close all the time.
“To finish three under after having the 7 is good, but it could have been five or six under without breaking too much sweat.”
The severe elevation changes at Close House – this rivals Crans-sur-Sierre in the Alps as the hilliest course on the European Tour and the caddies are bearing the brunt – mean that it’s not the longest of tracks and Ramsay feels this is in his favour.
“I hit a lot of putts that grazed the edges,” he said. “Even the seven was one that shaved the edge.
“I honestly don’t think it’s too far away. I just have to stay as patient as I can.
“I feel like I don’t need to do too much more for tomorrow. If I can get the putts to drop I’ll get that low number and get in the mix.”
Russell Knox had much more reason to be dissatisfied with his day’s work. The Inverness-born player is going to get just a week’s grace before he starts the new PGA Tour season, but a four over 74 left him a long way from being ready to hit the ground running.
Scott Jamieson pieced together a 68 but a six at the long sixth – his 15th hole – cost him, while Stephen Gallacher bogeyed his final hole for a one-under 69.
The crowds – 17,368 of them – certainly turned out for the return of the Tour to the North East of England – Slaley Hall nearby was a regular tour stop in the past but also host to the only event on the Tour ever to have been completely rained off, back in 1998.
George Coetzee’s leading 63 included an eagle three at the six and he sandwiched a bogey at the short par four 16th during a run of birdies on the back nine which would have had him out on his own.
However the South African was reeled in by a furious finish in the afternoon from Tyrrell Hatton, rounding into form in advance of his defence of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next week.
The often fiery Englishman bounced back from a bogey at the 11th by picking up birdies at five of the last seven holes, to come home in 30 and snatch a share of the first day lead.
It’s an encouraging sign after a difficult season in which Hatton believes he listened to too much swing advice from too many quarters.
“I’m not a tech person and there were a few numbers being thrown around which I didn’t want to know,” he said.
“My swing feels good now and I’ve got a good friend Jonathan Bell on the bag and we’re just trying to have a bit of fun. He’s a pro himself and wanted to play on the EuroPro Tour this year but didn’t have the funds.
“He’ll work for me until the end of the season and hopefully that will give him a great platform for next year.”
As many as six Ryder Cup players are gathered close by on four-under, including tournament host Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell, who actually double-bogeyed the short final hole, frustratingly his only blemish of the day. Ian Poulter, Matt Fitzpatrick, Martin Kaymer and Robert Karlsson were the other Team Europe veterans with 66s.
*Drumoig’s Connor Syme, who finished 12th in last week’s Portugal Masters in his debut as a professional, has been confirmed as one of the sponsor’s invitations for next weeks Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 22-year-old previously played in the event as an amateur in 2014.
