Golf: Gallacher shining again as he tees up for stint in the Africa Open

ALMOST six months after being forced to admit defeat in a battle with a debilitating viral infection, Stephen Gallacher is feeling upbeat as he steps back into the European Tour firing line tomorrow.

The Lothians star is in the field for the Africa Open in East London (South Africa) and can't wait to get the new campaign underway after a frustrating 2009.

He tried to play on after being diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an infection which attacked his lungs and joints, but was forced to end his season prematurely after the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in July.

The former Walker Cup player didn't set foot on a golf course again, competitively at least, until the end of November when he produced an outstanding performance to finish third at the European Tour Qualifying School.

Due to the bad weather, Gallacher hasn't had much chance to play again since then apart from partnering his good friend, Scott Knowles, in an East Alliance event up at The Braids.

But, having travelled out to South Africa on Sunday, he's raring to get back down to business on the European Tour, where he's played since turning professional in 1995.

"I'm looking forward to getting back playing again," said the former Dunhill Links champion. "The Tour School was great as that gave me a lift at the end of a difficult year and now I'm hoping I can keep that sort of form going in 2010."

Gallacher is staying on in South Africa for next week's Joburg Open and is hoping he will then be able to move on to the Middle East for its three-tournament swing.

"I'm hoping I'll get into Abu Dhabi off my ranking and I'm hoping to then get invites for both Qatar and Dubai," he added. "If I can get into the first five events on the schedule in 2010 that would be perfect."

Not surprisingly, Gallacher, who practises at the Kingsfield Golf Centre at Linlithgow when he's at home, has been happy to escape the cold weather after struggling to get a game other than that outing at The Braids.

"It had been a long, long time since I'd played up there and it was good fun to play with Scotty Knowles, big Mike Robson and one of the Harrison players," he said.

"Unfortunately, I've not been able to get on a golf course much since then and it seemed as though every course in Scotland has been shut recently.

"I've been practising hard, though, and I really can't wait to get my 2010 campaign underway as I feel as though I am starting with a blank piece of paper.

"I think what happened to me last year can be the making of me as it has given me my hunger and desire back. I still believe I think well on a golf course and have got a good attitude. I just needed to tidy up my game.

"Thanks to the work I've been doing on my long game with Bob Torrance, I feel as though I am swinging better than I ever have.

"I have also been doing a lot of work on my short game with David Burns, a young guy based at Kingsfield Golf Centre, while Karl Morris gave me a great chipping drill that he does with Graeme McDowell that I've been using.

"I've spoken to my uncle Bernard about the short game side of things as well and hopefully I'll be able to go out this year and get the putts per round down a bit."

On being back on Tour again, he added: "I've been keeping in touch with guys like Gary Orr, Alastair Forsyth and Steven O'Hara, but it's been hard for me to be away from the circuit and I'm looking forward to the banter.

"I'm sure it will be hard for my wife (Helen) and kids (Jack and Ellie) when I'm away again after getting used to me being around at home for so long but all I've ever known since leaving school is playing competitive golf. That's what I'm good at and that's what I need to get back doing."

In addition to an existing deal with Audi Lomond, Gallacher, who will secure a card for 2011 if he makes approximately 200,000 in his first ten tournaments, is delighted to be teeing off his season with two new sponsorships from Golf Poser and Alan Steele Asset Management.

They are both based in Linlithgow, where Gallacher now lives, and he admitted: "It's brilliant that two local companies are supporting me.

"They took a punt on me before the Tour School and they're the sort of guys you want to have backing you. It has been great for my confidence."