Scotland’s Richie Ramsay realises how lucky he is to still be competing after 14 years on the DP World Tour.<\/span><\/p>\n He begins his year at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, having won his fourth tour title in July to help him finish 19th in the order of merit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ramsay is determined to avoid comparing himself with any other players in 2023, which he says is the “thief of joy”.<\/span><\/p>\n “I am still very fortunate after 15 years of being a pro. I love what I do,” the 39-year-old told BBC Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n “I love going to the gym, I love going out and hitting balls and most of all I love competing.<\/span><\/p>\n “I need to look at it from the viewpoint there are a lot of people in this world struggling at the moment and I realise how lucky I am to be competing – that should ensure I enjoy this year. When you enjoy something it makes it 10 times easier.<\/span><\/p>\n “When you get older you get a little bit wiser, you understand things a little bit more, you don’t fall into the same traps you have done before. <\/span><\/p>\n “I am still hard on myself, I still get annoyed when I don’t play well – but I personally love that, because it shows there is still a fire there.”<\/span><\/p>\n Ramsay has set himself “some small goals” for 2023 – and “not comparing myself to anybody else” is one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n “It can be a dangerous thing because you can take joy in something and then you see someone do something that is way ahead of that,” he explained.<\/span><\/p>\n “Comparing yourself to others can be the thief of joy, and you need to watch out for that.<\/span><\/p>\n “A lot of people see others on social media and it is just a flash of their life. You need to take joy in the simple things, you need to love what you do. <\/span><\/p>\n “Social media can be great but it can be very dangerous, you compare yourself to other people.<\/span><\/p>\n “I need to be the best I can be, try and be great every day, do something that is difficult, come in with a good positive attitude and if I can immerse myself in those three things, I feel I can be in a good place.”<\/span><\/p>\n
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