Golf: Weather takes its toll at Scottish Open

Published on Friday 9 July 2010 15:26

STEPHEN GALLACHER and David Drysdale both secured places in the final two rounds of the £3 million Barclays Scottish Open but had differing views on whether they'd got lucky with the draw at Loch Lomond.

Gallacher, who started the day just two shots behind leader Darren Clarke after an opening 67, slipped eight shots off the hot halfway pace set by the Ulsterman after a second-round 73.

He was still the top Scot going into the final two rounds, with Martin Laird and Craig Lee both on level par and Drysdale and Richie Ramsay the only other home players to survive the cut on one-over.

While the morning starters got a real soaking, it was mainly dry when Gallacher and Drysdale played their rounds but the wind picked up during the afternoon.

"It was worse for us in the afternoon. At least when it was raining you knew where the wind was coming from," observed Gallacher. But Drysdale disagreed, saying: "We've had the best of the draw. I'd rather play in a breeze like this than the pouring rain."

It was still raining when Gallacher took a double-bogey 6 at the second, the result of his hand slipping off the grip.

"I tried to hit a wood and keep it low," he said. "I played with a rain glove on for the first few holes but it slipped and the ball went right along the deck. I had done well to get it back to level par for the round after 14 but the wind swirled at 15 and I was plugged in the trap and then hit a poor tee shot at 16.

"I made a good up-and-down for a par at the 17th, though, and it was one of those days where you had to concentrate 100 per cent all the time."

On being two under at the halfway stage, he added: "I'm happy with that. I didn't play too great but got round and I'm pleased to still be up there and in with a shout.

"That's 14 out of 15 cuts I've made, which is good going."

The Scot enjoyed playing in the opening two rounds with Edoardo Molinari, Clarke's closest challenger on seven under, and BMW PGA champion Simon Khan.

"We're all good pals and that helps as you are out there a long time and have got to switch off between shots," said Gallacher. Like many others, Gallacher believes the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, are a good bet to play together in a Ryder Cup one day.

"They are solid," he said. "Frankie is metronome while Eddie is a bit more flambouyant. He's a bit more up and down but is an awesome player. I definitely think they'll make a good pairing in the Ryder Cup one year."

Despite struggling with a head cold, Drysdale was going along nicely in his second round until running up a double-bogey 6 at the 14th.

"I was cruising along and then took the wrong club on the 14th," he said. "I tried to manufacture a shot under the tree but hit a branch and ended up in the hazard, making a double. I had rough idea the cut was going to be two-over and I played some good shots after that.

"I made a good birdie at the 17th after hitting a lovely 3-iron to 25 feet. The putt didn't look as though it was going in but got a nice bobble at the end.

"But the course got me back when I found a massive divot in the middle of the fairway at the last - I couldn't believe it. However, I managed to make a good up and down to save par.

"I worked hard for one-over and I think that's me made the cut here every year since 2003."