Richie sets his sights on the 2024 Open Championship

CARBON’S DP World Tour ambassador Richie Ramsay has his sights set on pegging it up at the 2024 Open Championship. In his latest blog, the Scot talks us through the tweaks he has been making to his game as he targets Royal Troon in July.

“I clocked up the airmiles for recent tournaments in Japan and China, with a top 20 finish in Shenzhen making the trip worthwhile.

“Before going to the Far East I had been working on a few things with my coach Ian Rae and Jonnie Cliff at Murrayfield Golf Club, so it was good to see progress on the golf course in tournament mode.

“Jonnie and I had a game at Gullane. He knows me quite well and reassured me that I was very good technically on the greens.

“You hear a lot of golfers talking about the need to have positive people around you. But they must know your game and you have to trust them implicitly.

“I have also been working with Callaway to get a putter that sits right for me. I used one of their Odyssey Jailbirds and putted nicely in China.

“This season, I am a lot more focused on process, outcome oriented goals rather than being entirely focused on results.

“I am trying to keep things simple. We felt I was getting far too complicated with my putting.

“I was thinking too much out on the course. My aim now is to read a putt, line it up and be free in my mindset.

“The first two are down to the conscious side of my brain, seeing the break and where it will drop into the hole on the clock face.

“The third part is down to being free in my mind, looking at the hole and reacting.

“It’s not so much about asking myself if I can hole the putt, it’s about staying in the present and trusting to the process. I felt it was working in the Volvo China Open, which was cut to three days because of the weather.

“The beauty of golf is that you are always looking to improve, whether you are a high handicapper or a pro.

“Golf is very humbling. You can play unbelievably well for a week and begin to think you've finally got it figured out. Next time you tee it up and can’t hit the back end of a bus! I think every golfer can relate to that.

“That is why it is such a great game. It keeps you coming back for more. There is a feeling of purpose and accomplishment when it all clicks. But it is always a work in progress, as even the very best players will tell you.

“Going forward now, my goal is to be qualifying for The Open at Royal Troon.

“I always strive to make that tournament, no matter where it is being staged.

“But there’s another big summer of golf coming up in Scotland and it is always special playing in front of galleries who give you that little bit of extra support as one of their own.”