Golf: Gallacher takes a breather after coming up short in Dubai Desert Classic

LOTHIANS star Stephen Gallacher has dropped a spot in the latest world rankings despite his top-ten finish in the Dubai Desert Classic.

The 36-year-old took his earnings for the four- event Middle East Swing to 134,000 with a closing 72 for a six-under-par total at The Emirates.

He finished five shots behind Spaniard Alvaro Quiros but ahead of world No?1 Lee Westwood, second-ranked Martin Kaymer and No?3 Tiger Woods.

However, Gallacher needed a top-seven finish to climb into the top 64 in the world rankings and secure a spot in the lucrative WGC-Accenture World Match Play in Arizona in two weeks' time.

And, such are the vagaries of that system, he has ended up dropping a place to 75th in the latest list issued this morning.

"I played really well all week," the former Dunhill Links champion told the Evening News, "but just missed out (on his target).

"I'm coming home today for a few weeks and my next event won't be until the Andalucia Masters in Malaga (on March 24-27)."

Gallacher performed admirably in the Middle East, his highest score in 16 rounds being a 74 in Abu Dhabi, where he finished 31st.

He was then fourth in Bahrain and 12th in Qatar and, after his latest effort, is lying 16th in the Race to Dubai.

Martin Laird, who didn't play in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am last week, is still the leading Scot in 41st on the world rankings, with Quiros up to 36th on the back of his win in Dubai.