Golf: Gallacher confident his Open hopes won't go belly up

STEPHEN GALLACHER has dusted down the putter he used to become a European Tour winner in a bid to change his luck on the greens.

The Lothians star finished in the top 25 at St Andrews last year to earn another tilt at the Claret Jug in Kent this week. But his frustration at not holing enough putts in recent weeks has led him to dig out the belly putter he used when win the Dunhill Links at St Andrews in 2004.

"It has been gathering dust in my garage for four or five months but I thought it might give me the boost I need," said Gallacher. "I won the Dunhill Links with it so it cannot be too bad. Come to think about it, I am not even sure why I got rid of it all those years ago.

"I have been pleased with how it has worked so far this week."

Gallacher, who is out at just before 8am tomorrow in the opening round, played a practice round yesterday with fellow Scot Martin Laird. And he is predicting a tough test for the 156-strong field this week. The course looks great but it is going to be tough," he said. "The greens at Sandwich are very small and, in this wind, they will be difficult targets to hit. We will need to play low, running shots in and a lot will depend on which hump and hollow you catch. There will be a few long putts from around the greens so the putter will be vital."