Golf: Gallacher plans getting off to a flyer after Dubai miss

STEPHEN GALLACHER quickly recovered from his Dubai disappointment and is already targeting a flying start to the 2012 campaign.

The Lothians star missed out on the season-ending European Tour event in the United Arab Emirates by a single spot after finishing 61st in the Race to Dubai.

He found it painful to be heading for the flight connections door in Dubai coming back from Hong Kong as his fellow players went the other way. But the 37-year-old soon got over it and has been down to Largs for a session with coach Bob Torrance as he starts his build up for the start of the new season.

“I was disappointed for a couple of hours about missing out on Dubai and it was hard when I had to head to flight connections in Dubai as everyone else went the opposite way, but it is only one tournament,” said Gallacher. “Playing in the World Cup with Martin Laird helped ease the disappointment. We had such a good week, gelling really well.

“I was going to have a couple of weeks off but I was down to see Bob Torrance last week.

“I’ll be starting the new season in Abu Dhabi (at the end of January) and will play in all the events in the Middle East Swing and India as well this year.

“If you come out [the] traps [quickly], there are so many ranking points that you could earn a place in the majors early on.”

Meanwhile, the Saltman brothers, Lloyd and Elliot, are struggling to join Gallacher back on the European Tour next season.

Lloyd was lying in a tie for 92nd and Elliot was 104th heading into today’s fourth round of the European Tour Qualifying School in Girona. They needed to climb into the top 70 and ties to make tonight’s cut.