RICHIE RAMSAY felt too much negativity was holding back Scottish golf as he carded a round of 72 to finish the Open championship in a tie for 22nd place. Ramsay was one of only two Scots to make it past the halfway mark but neither he nor David Drysdale were able to end the nation’s 18-year wait for a major title win.

Ramsay said: “I’ve learned a lot this week. I set high goals. I felt comfortable out there. But I just play a little bit too conservatively sometimes.

“The difference is you have to walk with a bit more of a strut. I’ve got to surround myself with as many positive people as possible. I think sometimes some negativity falls in there. It’s an old Scottish thing. There are a few other things that I think are major that hold us back as a nation and from progressing in general.

“I can hit it as straight as anybody off the tee and my ball striking can be really good but my game just needs to be way sharper. It’s very small margins and that’s what I need to improve. The fact that I’m in Scotland probably doesn’t aid that and that’s something you’ve got to continually fight against.”

Drysdale almost never made his final round after picking up an injury on the practise ground but declared himself happy with his 27th place finish.

He said: “I did something to my neck on the range this morning after hitting a couple of three-woods. I actually thought for three or four minutes I wouldn’t be going out. So it was alright. I just couldn’t turn through it but I managed to hobble around.

“I felt really comfortable this week and really enjoyed the crowds. I really should be playing a few more of these types of events and hopefully I can in future.”