Richie Ramsay wobbles but wins in Morocco

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay bounced back from a triple bogey six to win the Trophee Hassan II by a single shot from Romain Wattel of France.

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay bounced back from a triple bogey six to win the Trophee Hassan II by a single shot from Romain Wattel of France.

Ramsay carded a final round of 69 at the Golf du Palais Royal in Agadir to claim his third European Tour title, his first since the 2012 Omega European Masters, but it wasn’t plain sailing for the Scot.

Tied for the lead going into the last round, Ramsay raced clear of the pack with four birdies in a row from the third hole. At that stage a victory for the 31-year-old looked highly likely.

But after a dropped shot on the 7th hole, the Aberdonian took five shots to get down from off the green on the par-3 8th. Ramsay was able to put the setback behind him however, and he produced some superb golf on the run for home. He birdied three holes consecutively from the 12th then kept things steady on the last four to post a clubhouse total of 10-under-par.

Only Romain Wattel could catch Ramsay but he needed to pick up two shots over the last two holes. The Frenchman reduced the deficit to one with a birdie on the 17th but, when he failed to chip in from the side of the 18th green, the title went to Ramsay.

“I knew I was still in the mix (after the triple bogey) and I made great putts on nine and 10 just to keep the momentum going,” he said. “I stood over the putt on the 12th hole and I just thought my putter feels absolutely great, I could see all the lines. I thought ‘just go for it, this is your time’. Pretty much took it by the scruff of the neck the next two holes.”

Richie Ramsay, what's in the bag?:

George Coetzee of South Africa needed to win this event to gain an invitation to the U.S. Masters. He made a valiant attempt but came up just two shots shy. He ended the week in a tie for third place.

One man who will be at Augusta is Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal. The two-time Masters champion fired a superb final round of 66 in Agadir to finish the week in a tie for ninth place. It was the 150th European Tour top-10 finish of his career.

“I didn’t expect this earlier in the week,” said Olazabal who had only narrowly made the cut after a second round 76. “It’s nice to have a round like this for the confidence.”

Trophee Hassan II Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco Mar 26-29, purse: €1,500,000, par: 72

1    Richie Ramsay (Sco)    72    66    71    69    278    €250,000 2    Romain Wattel (Fra)    68    74    67    70    279    €166,660 T3    George Coetzee (RSA)    67    72    71    70    280    €61,250 T3    Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)    70    69    73    68    280    €61,250 T3    Mikael Lundberg (Swe)    70    75    66    69    280    €61,250 T3    Kevin Phelan (Irl)        70    70    70    70    280    €61,250 T3    Chris Wood (Eng)        67    72    74    67    280    €61,250 T3    Jaco Van Zyl (RSA)    69    71    70    70    280    €61,250 T9    Richard Bland (Eng)    69    70    71    71    281    €28,230 T9    Ben Evans (Eng)        69    70    74    68    281    €28,230 T9    Jose Maria Olazabal (Esp) 69    76    70    66    281    €28,230 T9    Wade Ormsby (Aus)    71    72    68    70    281    €28,230 T9    Marcel Schneider (Ger)    73    69    72    67    281    €28,230

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage