Richie Ramsay arrives too late for US Open play-off

From BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/13601725.stm

Richie Ramsay looks to have missed out on joining fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher in the 2011 US Open after turning up too late for a play-off.

Gallacher made it with a stroke to spare after two rounds of qualifying at Walton Heath in Surrey.

Ramsay finished in a tie with Swede Johan Edfors and Dane Andreas Harto.

But the Scot had already left the course headed for a wedding reception in Belfast and arrived back as Edfors beat Harto to claim the 11th spot.

"I can't believe they played when it was pitch dark," said Ramsay after being told that it was all over and he had been made a reserve for Congressional on 16-19 June.

Edfors won his place just as the disbelieving former US Amateur champion pulled into the car park.

Four hours earlier, having finished his fog-delayed two rounds at four under par, the 27-year-old from Aberdeen had decided to go to Heathrow to try to catch a flight to Belfast and attend the wedding reception of fellow Tour player Gareth Maybin.

However, not only did he miss the plane but he was then told he could be in a play-off.

The expectations all day were that it would take place on Tuesday morning because of the time lost, but when the last group finished, officials saw the opportunity to get at least one extra hole in.

Edfors and Harto were understandably keen, especially knowing that Ramsay was likely to be absent.

And, with it being switched from a par four to a par three to speed things up, Harto lost when he failed to get up and down from a bunker.

---

What a shambles that sounds! Sounds like Ramsey made a bad error or judgement but playing tricks like shortening a par4 to a par3 to "speed things up" seem ridiculous. If it couldn't be played properly, surely it should have continued the next day

Sounds like plenty of blame to go around there.

Ironic: These International qualies aren't having much luck. The R&A qualie for PGA Tour members hoping for a place in the Open Champoionship field was shortened from 36 holes to 18 due to storms.

And now this. What a shambles! No way to run a railroad and various similar cliches apply.

Oh that's harsh!!

Also bit harsh (of the writer I know it's not you Davie) to suggest that Edfors and Harto would want to play more so because they thought Ramsey was missing.

Just have to hope someone (Tiger?) pulls out and he gets in though I thinking he probably isn't first reserve is he?

It borders on ludicrous the whole situation, seems international qualify for both opens is going through the wringer at the moment, as for Ramsey he's at fault for not bothering to check with officials what exaclty was happening and if it were me and a choice between a playoff for US Open or Maybins wedding it'd be a quick call sorry Gareth playoff imminent give the mrs one from me!

Edfors is a guy I like so happy he made it, but some serious re-thinking needed with regards how qualifying runs and playoff scenarios

Davie - I don't think they shortened a par 4 to par 3 - they used a par 3 (hole 1 Old Course) instead of a par 4 (hole 1 new course). The par 4 is easily driveable - indeed most players were on or around the green with an iron in the morning. The par 3 has been used before - Peter Hanson had a hole in one in a playoff 2 years ago to earn his ticket.

During the morning the unofficial story doing the rounds was that the event would be 18 holes with top players being chosen from each course - but realised that was wrong when we saw players turning straight round after round 1 - no breaks. Tough on the caddies - as well as players.

Maybe they should have had powerplay golf setup!!!!

It all rather smacks of a USGA official with a flight home booked to me.

puligny wrote:Davie - I don't think they shortened a par 4 to par 3 - they used a par 3 (hole 1 Old Course) instead of a par 4 (hole 1 new course).

My mistake. I read the words "switched to a par 3" and automatically assumed that it was the original hole 1 shortened.

I wonder if the rules of competition allowed for a switch to a different course for the playoff though? That, in some senses, seems even more bizarre than the original scenario!

SJ may well have nailed the explanation with his last post

Maverick wrote:

Edfors is a guy I like so happy he made it, but some serious re-thinking needed with regards how qualifying runs and playoff scenarios

I went into the loos half way up the 14th at Wentworth on Friday as Edfors was walking up the hill. Followed me in to spend a penny, dirty barsteward never washed his hands

Davie wrote:I wonder if the rules of competition allowed for a switch to a different course for the playoff though? That, in some senses, seems even more bizarre than the original scenario!

I think they did use both the courses for the qualies though, so it's not like it's a hole that wasn't used for regulation play.


Think most of the blame lies with Ramsay here. Surely if you have any chance at all of being required to play more golf that day, then you get absolute confirmation from the organisers that you won't be needed before you leave the course. If Ramsay hadn't buggered off but had just lost in a normal playoff, we'd all be praising the officials for quick thinking and common sense.

Agree, all Ramseys fault.
With that being said, the open qualifiers seem a bit like a lottery.

I've never understood why the qualifiers have to be 36 hole events? Why not just 18? Then there would be no rushing off or lack of time for a playoff.