Scots trio hope M-factor will aid Masters dream

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Published on 21/03/2013 04:21

MASTERS hopefuls Stephen Gallacher, Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson are hoping “M” can be the magic letter in their bids to join Paul Lawrie and Sandy Lyle at Augusta National in three weeks’ time.

Events in Malaysia, starting today, and in Morocco next week will determine if the trio can climb into the top 50 in the world rankings and earn coveted invitations for the opening major of the season.

Gallacher is 65th, Ramsay 70th and Jamieson 72nd and it’s probably going to take a win from either of the events if they’re going to join the world’s elite in the latest battle for a Green Jacket.

Both Gallacher and Jamieson are in the field for the Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur and they’ll be joined by Ramsay in next week’s 
Hassan Trophy in Agadir. All three have different reasons for wanting to add The Masters to their schedules this year. Gallacher has never been to Augusta 
National, Ramsay is keen to repeat an experience he enjoyed as an amateur and Jamieson went to Augusta State University.

Having done well in the 
Malaysian event in the past – he was 11th in 2011 before finishing runner-up to Louis Oosthuizen last year – Gallacher is hoping Kuala Lumpur Golf Club can prove a fruitful hunting ground again. “It’s a course that suits my eye and, when you play a course again you’ve done well on, it brings back good memories,” said the 38-year-old, who will have world No 3 Luke Donald for company in his opening two rounds. “It’s playing a bit tighter and the greens are firm, so accuracy is the key – and gallons of water!” he added of the battle players face with humidity.

After catapulting himself up the rankings on the back of winning the Dubai Desert Classic, Gallacher was unable to pick up as many rankings points as he’d have liked in the two 
recent WGC events. Within hours of arriving back from the latter in Miami, however, he headed straight to his practice base at Kingsfield to do some work and is ready to give it his all in a bid to be heading back across the Atlantic again. “Two good weeks are required to fulfil my Masters dream,” he admitted.

Jamieson, sitting fourth in the Race to Dubai after his flying start to the 2013 campaign, gave an excellent account of himself in his first WGC event, finishing just outside the top 20 behind Tiger Woods at the Cadillac Championship at Doral.

“It was a great week and it was nice to mix with all the ‘big boys’,” said the Glaswegian. “I was pretty happy with my game but very encouraged as by no means did I play as well as I know I can and still faired okay in a very strong field.

“As far as getting into The Masters is concerned, it’s looking like I will need a win or two very strong finishes in Malaysia and Morocco but, hopefully, I’ll take a lot of confidence from my performance a fortnight ago against the best in the world.”

Alastair Forsyth, the winner in 2002, and David Drysdale are also in the field in Malaysia.