By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Brown’s emotional BMW International Open win gets two Scots into their home Open
Gullane
or Kentucky? That was the question Richie Ramsay was waiting to be
answered after finishing his week’s work in the BMW International Open
in Munich. Thanks to Dan Brown landing the title an hour and a half or
so later, the Edinburgh-based player will be making a short drive to
East Lothian on Monday to prepare for the Genesis Scottish Open instead
of facing a nine-hour flight to Atlanta to get ready for the ISCO
Championship.
Due
to Brown already being in the field for the Genesis Scottish Open at
The Renaissance Club, the spot set aside for the BMW International Open
winner has been freed up, meaning that Forrest, who had been first
reserve since the entry list was published a week past Friday, will now
be in the star-studded line up under his own steam.
That means the last invitation, which has traditionally been set aside
for the next highest Scot on the DP World Tour category list will no
longer be required by Forrest and go instead to Ramsay, meaning the home
contingent in the $9 million Rolex Series event will increase to six
players as the duo join defending champion Bob MacIntyre, Connor Syme,
Calum Hill and Ewen Ferguson.
“I’d
owe them one,” joked Ramsay as he waited to see if either Brown or
Jordan Smith would do both him and Forrest a favour, with Brown coming
out on top to land an emotional win - a close friend passed away last
week - after the English pair found themselves in a two-horse race on
the back nine at Golfclub München Eichenried.
“It’s
frustrating,” added Ramsay, who finished joint-19th alongside Scott
Jamieson, of the position he found himself in with regards to his next
assignment. “I was saying to someone there ‘I’m either playing in
Gullane next week or Kentucky (laughing), which I have never had
anything like in 16 years out here.”
If
a non-exempt player had won in Bavaria - both Kiwi Kazuma Kobori and
Spaniard David Puig made last-day charges - Ramsay would have found
himself in an awful position knowing that a withdrawal on Monday,
Tuesday or Wednesday would have ended with the same result for him as
far as the Genesis Scottish Open was concerned.
“I would be beyond upset,” he said of that scenario unfolding if he was
on the other side of the Atlantic. “You want to hold out for as long as
possible, but there gets a point where if you get to Kentucky too late
you are not going to be able to put up a good show.
“I basically know that I want either Dan Brown or Jordan Smith to win as
I know they are exempt whereas Kobori isn’t. It would be an ideal
scenario if both Grant and I got in, but I’ve just got to go and enjoy
the free Haribo and see what happens (laughing).”
Englishman Dan Brown pictured during the final round of the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried | Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
No
doubt earning him a handshake from the two Scots when they get to East
Lothian, Brown landed a second DP World Tour win after signing off with a
bogey-free 66 for a 22-under-total and a two-shot success over Smith,
who finished runner-up for the second year in a row.
“The
last two days I just kept thinking about him to try and take my mind
off it. I suppose he was there with me and it made it a little bit
easier,” said Brown of the inner turmoil he faced in the tournament.
Forrest,
who had a disappointing weekend in Germany, is not only based at the
home venue for the Genesis Scottish Open but he is also The Renaissance
Charitable Foundation Ambassador. As a local man, he has been delighted
to see the event distribute more than £1 million in charitable funds
since the tournament was first held at the East Lothian venue in 2019.
“Hopefully,
yeah,” he said of playing in the Rolex Series event again on his own
doorstep. “I didn’t even realise I wasn’t in until last week. I just
assumed from where I finished last year, which was about 20 spots
different from where I am at the moment, that I would be in.
“But
fingers crossed that I do get in. Obviously it’s my home course and
home event. Yeah, it is a massive week for us and I am really hoping to
play and, hopefully, turn my season around a bit.”
Meanwhile,
Martin Kaymer, who thrilled the home fans with a closing 67, is hoping
his presence in the Munich line up along with fellow LIV Golf players
Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed is a sign of things to come as the game
bids to repair its current fractured status.
“If
you see the big picture and focus on what the people want to see and
what the tournament director would like to have, I do believe that when
Sergio plays and myself here in Germany it will add value to the event
and hopefully we are going to get there one day by the CEOs getting
together and finding a good solution for all of us,” said the two-time
major winner.
Talks
between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public
Investment Fund are ongoing after a Framework Agreement was signed just
over two years ago, though things have gone a bit quiet on that front in
recent weeks.
“As
you can imagine, there are so many rumours and so many hopes,” added
Kaymer, who captains Cleeks on the breakaway circuit. “But I would be
the wrong guy to ask. I can only tell you what I hope will happen.”
Lee Westwood, one of Kaymer’s LIV Golf colleagues, won The Open Final
Qualifier at Dundonald Links last Tuesday to secure a spot at Royal
Portrush, where he’ll be teeing up for the 28th time in the Claret Jug
event while, at the same time, making his 93rd major appearance.
“Lee
is one of the best players England has ever had,” observed Kaymer of
the former world No 1 and Ryder Cup legend. “He had some good finishes
on the LIV tour as well. Is he capable of winning (The Open)?
Absolutely. And anything can happen in links golf.”
As
for his own game, Kaymer is starting to see light at the end of the
tunnel after some issues with his game and injury problems as well. “I’m
playing good,” he said, smiling. “I’ve practised a lot the last few
weeks. I’ve had a good time with my coach and the consistency is back.
I’ve hit more fairways than the previous years and there are no injuries
holding me back now and now we can go forward again.”
