Ramsay escapes penalty

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay had his hopes of a first European Tour victory boosted today before another ball was struck in the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

One behind leaders Nick Dougherty, Ignacio Garrido and Jeppe Huldahl when his third round was halted by bad light last night, Ramsay then faced a long investigation into whether he should be given a two-stroke penalty.

But as the event suffered another delay this morning following more heavy rain, he escaped punishment.

The Aberdeen golfer was questioned about an incident on the eighth hole, where he was seen on television pressing down the ground behind where he was going to play his next shot from.

Placing of the ball was allowed because of the wet conditions and he told officials he was testing for casual water, but European Tour chief referee said after talks that went on until 10.40pm: “He now knows that’s not the way to go about it.

“Obviously it’s something Richie is concerned about. If he’s absolutely positive he did not improve his area of swing then I can’t impose a penalty on him based on what I’ve seen, but it’s been left with Richie to come back to us in the morning.”

Ramsay and playing partners Robert Rock and Ross Fisher had the last two holes of their third rounds to complete, but while the resumption was pushed back 30 minutes to 8.45am to allow greenkeeping staff to make the 18th fairway more playable Paramor said that there was to be no penalty.