Golf: Gallacher eyes World after show in Dunhill

LOTHIANS star Stephen Gallacher has already set one target for 2011 - a World Cup appearance alongside Martin Laird.

The pair have been deprived of that chance this season due to the event in China now being held every second year.

But, as the leading two Scots in the world rankings by some distance, Gallacher and Laird are strong favourites to line up for Scotland in just over a year's time.

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"I was speaking to Martin, who's a good lad, the other day," revealed Gallacher. "The two of us are in the top 100. Hopefully we stay there next year for the World Cup and get automatic entry into that."

Gallacher, who played in the 2005 World Cup, was speaking after both players had secured top-20 finishes in the Dunhill Links Championship, which was won by Martin Kaymer.

Laird tied for fifth after a closing 67 for 277, with Gallacher sharing 17th after he signed off with a 71 for 282. It means that Laird, who was 61st going into the event, will stay as the top Scot in the world rankings ahead of Gallacher in 80th.

"He (Martin] has had a great end to the year but that's kind of the way the FedEx thing goes," noted Gallacher of his fellow Scot finishing second in The Barclays, the first of the PGA Tour's big-money play-off events.

"You have one good week and you just go through the roof. Finish second and, woof, your world ranking improves."

Despite picking up a cheque for just under 39,000 at St Andrews, Gallacher dropped one place to 22nd in the Race to Dubai.

But he's hopeful that he will now get a spot in the field for this week's Portugal Masters, another of the big-money events on the European Tour towards the end of the season.

The Scot was second reserve as of midnight last night but said: "I've heard that the two invitations left are going down the list. There's also a spot held back for the winner here so it looks as if there will be three. Me and Steven O'Hara could get in. Castellon (tournament in Spain] should be close as well, that's good.

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"I'm lying fifth for the HSBC Champions, for which the top five not otherwise exempt get in, right after Castellon so that would be huge.

"I've just got to keep knocking on the door and I could have a really good end of the year.

"You can't expect much after last year (due to ill health] but next year I'll be in everything and I'm for hoping a couple of invites towards the end, that would be brilliant, Hong Kong or Valderrama.

"If I don't, there's nothing I can do. I've just got to keep top-tenning it when I do play."

Gallacher could end up playing as many as 30 tournaments this year but, being able to pick and choose a bit more, he's looking to bring that down next season.

"I reckon 25 or 24 would be ideal, maybe less," he said. "The key is being able to prepare better for them.

"This year there have been times when I've had to keep going but next year I can work out when to have my breaks and it'll be better. I can try and peak at certain times."

n LLOYD SALTMAN claimed a share of third place in the ALLIANZ Golf Open de Grand Toulouse in France to boost his Challenge Tour hopes as the season heads to a climax.

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The Aegon-sponsored player shot a final round of 69 to share third with Swede Joel Sjholm on four under par 280, five behind winner Bernd Wiesberger of Austria. Another Scot, Jamie McLeary finished joint fifth after a closing 71.

It was Saltman's second successive top ten on the Challenge Tour, and fourth in a row including the Qualifying School First Stage and a Europro Tour event, earning him a place in the field for this week's event in Rome and giving him hope of a grandstand finish to the season.

His joint-third place in Toulouse lifted him from 94th to 55th on the Challenge Tour Rankings with two events left to get into the top 45 and secure a place in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.

The top 20 after the season finale will then graduate to the 2011 European Tour and Saltman looks to be peaking at the right time.