Cazoo Classic - Day four digest

Everything you need to know from a dramatic final round in Southport.

Richie Ramsay made an emotional return to the winner’s circle, Paul Waring registered his best performance in almost four years and Marcus Kinhult mounted a late title challenge at the scene of past success.

Here is everything you need to know from Sunday at Hillside Golf Club.

Ramsay fulfils promise to daughter and brings home trophy

Richie Ramsay won his fourth DP World Tour title and first for more than seven years after producing a fantastic finish under pressure down the stretch. Earlier this season, the Scot described missing out on the title at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett in May after a final-hole double bogey at The Belfry as “probably the biggest kick in the teeth” of his career. Here, around the links at Hillside, agony was replaced by elation as he dedicated his victory to his daughter Olivia. “The biggest thing for me was I made a promise to my daughter,” he said. “I don’t break promises to her. I said I would get her a trophy and this one is for her. It feels unbelievable. I haven’t won since my daughter was born and that’s six years.” While final-round playing partner and overnight leader Julien Guerrier made three bogeys in his final six holes from a winning position, Ramsay birdied three of his last five holes to card a three-under 69, finish the week at 14-under-par and one shot clear of England’s Paul Waring. The triumph saw Ramsay jump from 56th to 20th in the DP World Tour Rankings in partnership with Rolex. Well deserved, Richie.

The winning moment

Victory is more significant when it is hard-earned and that unquestionably proved the case for Ramsay. After a two-putt birdie at the 17th gave him a one-shot lead on the 18th tee, the 39-year-old held his nerve to hole an eight-foot par putt on the final green to seal success. “There is no better feeling than holing a putt under the gun, when it matters, when the tournament is on the line,” said Ramsay, who was struggling to hold back the tears after his winning putt. “Winning is everything. It is what matters in this sport.”

Local favourite Waring goes close

Waring might not have left Hillside with his second DP World Tour title, but the Englishman will look back on the week with fond memories. The Wirral golfer used his local knowledge of the Southport links to great effect over the week, including in the first round as he shot a course record-equalling 63 to seize the overnight lead. A closing two-under 70 saw the 37-year-old register his best performance on Tour since his victory at the Nordea Masters in August 2018. Three birdies in his last eight holes meant he briefly held the clubhouse lead at 13 under and, although he was surpassed by Ramsay, he can take consolation from moving up 88 places to just outside the top 60 in the DP World Tour season-long rankings.

Kinhult ends Hillside return with reason for optimism

On his arrival at Hillside this week, Kinhult spoke of his hope that the scene of past success could provide the spark to challenge for his second DP World Tour title. The Swede claimed his first Tour title at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Tommy Fleetwood during a breakthrough campaign in 2019. He began the final round five shots off the lead, but he made six birdies, including three in a row from the 11th, in a closing 67 – the joint best round of the day – to set the early clubhouse target at 12 under. Despite a bogey on his final hole, Kinhult is sure to take great confidence from his performance.

Forrest heads to Scotland for title defence in fine form

Grant Forrest mixed four birdies with two bogeys as he Scot ended the week with a round of 70 to finish in a five-way share of third place at 12 under. After a week in which he shot under par in every round, he will now head to Fairmont St Andrews to defend his Hero Open title buoyed by his best result since last October’s Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid. His maiden Tour win last year was the first of back-to-back triumphs for Scots last season, so after Ramsay’s success this week could we be in store for a Scottish double on Scottish soil this week?