Gallacher happy to pick up brownie points with family

Published on Sunday 11 July 2010 20:50

IN producing the best performance in the Barclays Scottish Open by a home-based player since Colin Montgomerie finished third in 2000, Stephen Gallacher not only took his earnings for the last six weeks to more than £450,000 but also earned some brownie points at home.

After closing with a three-under-par 68 - the joint-best score on a difficult day - to finish in a tie for fourth, the 34-year-old Scot revealed he'd now be taking the week off after the Open Championship at St Andrews to attend the wedding of his cousin, TV presenter Kirsty.

"I probably won't play in (the Scandinavian Masters] in Sweden and go to my cousin's wedding in Seville with the rest of my family," said Gallacher, to the delight of his wife Helen and nine-year-old son Jack.

On his return to the venue where his 2009 season had ended due to a debilitating viral illness, Gallacher maintained a sparkling run of form that started with a fourth-place finish in the BMW PGA Championship. He was sixth in Madrid the week after, fourth in Wales next time out and the same again here to earn 127,400.

"It is frightening the difference a year can make," he admitted. "I'm hoping to get into the top 100 to get into the USPGA Championship and I'm going the right way." On his closing effort, which was made in the company of John Daly and Ryder Cup hopeful Alvaro Quiros, he added: "I'm delighted with that, especially with the weather how it was when we were teeing off."

Gallacher, who was surprised to only find himself playing first on two occasions in the company of his big-hitting playing partners, was sitting in a share of third after holing a 25-foot birdie putt at the last only to be knocked down a spot when Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin rolled in a monster for his 3 in the game behind.

"It was a nice way to finish," said the Scot. "There's always a bit more pressure on you when you are playing in front of your family and friends but I'd rather have them here watching me. It was battle on the front nine when the weather was outrageous. It was just a case of trying to keep the ball under control."

Gallacher now heads for St Andrews and a first Open Championship appearance since the last event there five years ago.