Golf: Kerr keen to make Mark

MARK KERR admitted he was trying to ignore the presence of Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie alongside him on the putting green at Gleneagles as he prepared for the biggest test of his career.

The trainee pro at Marriott Dalmahoy is teeing it up in the company of Monty and a whole host of other top players in this week's Johnnie Walker Championship.

Kerr earned his place in the field through his performance in last year's Scottish PGA Championship at the same venue and admits it's a big step up for him. But that won't be stopping the former Lothians Championship runner-up from gaining some valuable experience in an event that brings the race for places in Monty's Ryder Cup team to an end.

"It is biggest week of my career, without a doubt, and I'm really looking forward to it. If nothing else, it will be a good experience," said Kerr.

"It was nice to play well here last year (in the Scottish PGA] and get the invite. I feel a wee bit lost at the moment, to be honest, and I'm trying to ignore the fact Monty is practising beside me just now on the putting green."

Due to a PGA ban that has now expired, Kerr hasn't played as much as he'd have liked heading into his first European Tour event. But he was encouraged by the fact he gave a decent account of himself in the Scottish Challenge up in Aviemore earlier in the season.

"I've not had a lot of competitive opportunities this year obviously," added the former Dispatch Trophy winner.

"I had an outing up at Spey Valley, where I was a bit rusty but only missed the cut by a shot. I also played on the EuroPro Tour a couple of weeks ago and made the cut.

"I got amongst it with nine holes to go before dropping a few shots but it was nice to know that I could still go out and compete. I know the standard is going to be a bit better here but it's not going to be massively different.

"The course is long but also forgiving off the tee - and that should suit me."

Kerr is also hoping some work he's been doing with a sports psychologist can pay dividends, with a decent cheque on offer if he can make the cut.

"There's probably not as much pressure here as you feel at Q School but the psychology stuff has relaxed me already and I'm just trying to enjoy it," he said. "I'm not setting any goals. At the very worst I'll able to take away some experience that will hopefully stand me in good stead for the future.

"I want to see where my game is this week then finish off the [PGA Scottish] Region well this year and then look forward to next season with my PGA qualifications in the bag."

Stephen Gallacher spearheads the Lothians challenge at Gleneagles but Scottish golf's man of the moment is not putting any extra pressure on himself.

He's notched four top tens on the European Tour in the last three months as well as finishing 23rd and 18th in The Open and USPGA Championship respectively.

But the Kingsfield Golf Centre man wants to let things happen naturally rather than trying to force the issue as he seeks to add to his Dunhill Links Championship win six years ago.

"You can't say you are going to win," said Gallacher. "You just want to let it happen, really. If you're in contention, you've got a chance of knocking it off and the main thing is that I'm getting closer."

One of Gallacher's targets this week is to make sure he's still around at the weekend - so that son Jack can get a chance to watch him.

The nine-year-old loved watching dad do well at Loch Lomond and St Andrews earlier in the year and grabs every opportunity he can to either hit balls on the range or get out on the nine-hole course at Kingsfield.

But he's back at school now and, with a football commitment on Saturday morning as well, will only be able to take in the Johnnie Walker action on Sunday.

"He was hoping my tee times would be early-late, so he could come up and watch me on his half-day on Friday, but I'm late-early, so he'll be gutted," noted Gallacher.

"He's playing football on Saturday morning as well, so he's hoping I'll be doing well and can come up and see me after that. No pressure on dad, then!

"He was even studying the Gleneagles yardage chart this morning, so he can help me get round the course. He loves it and will be getting his handicap soon. I'm not going to be pushy with him, though. I'll just let him do what he wants."

David Drysdale, who partners Gallacher in the opening two rounds, will be bidding to bounce back from a missed cut in the Czech Republic last week.

And there's a return to the main Tour this week for Andrew Oldcorn, who also earned his place in the field through last year's Scottish PGA Championship.