Golf: Gallacher reveals his major motivation at pro-am event

The Lothians star shot a second-round 72 at Carnoustie for a three-under-par halfway total - nine shots behind leader John Parry.

Gallacher was heading for Kingsbarns today for his third round and is hoping to be back at St Andrews tomorrow for the finale to the pro-am event.

The 2004 winner is lying 21st on the Race to Dubai and has his sights set on climbing at least six places between now and the end of the season.

"My aim for the rest of the season is to get into the top 15," admitted Gallacher. "If I do that it gets me into a few majors next year and stuff like that.

"I'd also love to get into the top 50 in the world as well - that would make it a great year."

Gallacher played Carnoustie on a miserable day - and was hoping leader Parry and the nine members of the winning Ryder Cup team would get a taste of the same there today.

"It was pretty brutal to start with - and I was two-over at the turn," he added. "There were three par-4s you couldn't get up in two.

"I just hope it's the same tomorrow with the wind. It was a bit easier on the back nine, a bit more downwind.

"This is my favourite course of the three and I'm very happy with that score in these conditions.

"It was playing so tough, even downwind it was difficult to get close to the flag.

"So I'll take 72. I just hope it's the same tomorrow so it's pretty fair."

Parry, who as an amateur played in the same Walker Cup team as Rory McIlroy, gave much of the credit for carving out a four-stroke halfway lead to his putting.

"I've pretty much holed every putt for two days. It's going to be a big help when you're doing that, especially in the wind because you're always going to be struggling to get up and down from different positions," said the Englishman."

The big question is, can Parry hang on from the chasing pack over the last two days to record the biggest win of his life?

The biggest threat seems likely to come from a posse of European Ryder Cup challengers - Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and vice-captain Thomas Bjorn - who are all within seven shots.

Fisher, who shot 68 on the Old Course, showed that the Ryder Cup celebrations had not dampened his ability to mount a serious challenge.

"I always set high expectations. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't feel like my game is ready and in good enough shape to win," he said.

Harrington, who also shot 68 on the Old Course, said: "It was a good score and certainly I would have taken it on the way out.

"This is my third team event in a row. There's a lot going on when you're playing in a team event. If it's not just your own game, you have someone else to look after and watch over. I like the Dunhill. It's a nice week."

With the top 60 and ties qualifying for the final round on the Old Course, David Drysdale looked to be struggling after a second-round 76 at Carnoustie left him well down the field on five-over.