Richie Ramsay running 'own race' again and reaps reward in Dubai

Richie Ramsay is back running his “own race” and not thinking that he needs to keep up with golf’s new breed of players.

Having made the cut in his first two events of 2022, the change in his thought process is already paying dividends for the Aberdonian.

Ramsay, who carded three sub-par rounds as he tied for 25th in last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, added another one as he signed for a 69 on the second day of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

Having opened with a 74, he’s sitting 10 shots off the lead, held by South African Justin Harding, at the halfway stage at Emirates Golf Club, but it’s been an encouraging start to season No 14 on the renamed DP World Tour for Ramsay.

“The biggest thing I need to keep realising, and I was thinking about this in the gym the other morning, is that last year I fell into the trap of comparing myself to other guys in terms of how they swing and what speed they swing at,” Ramsay told The Scotsman.

“That was a pitfall, not just for me but maybe for other guys as well. Social media can be great, but it can be a devil at the same time. I’ve got to realise that I have to run my own race. That I’m in competition with myself and not anyone else.

“Just having that plan is less stressful than worrying about what other people are doing because you do start questioning yourself. You may not think it, but it is still seeping into your head, so I am stopping any comparisons with other people.”

On a day when Scott Jamieson retained his position as top Scot - he sits joint-17th on four-under, three ahead of his compatriot - Ramsay signed for six birdies, including a burst of three on the spin on his front nine.

“It was really good to get the swing changes I made with Ian Rae (his coach) about