Golf: Scot closes in on Match Play berth with strong show

STEPHEN GALLACHER today moved up 15 places to 74th in golf's world rankings after chasing home Paul Casey to finish fourth in the Volvo Champions Trophy in Bahrain.

The Lothians star is closing in on top Scot Martin Laird, who dropped two places to 49th after he missed the cut in the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour.

More importantly for Gallacher, he is now almost within touching distance of a place in the top 64, where he needs to be in order to get a spot in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in a few weeks' time. The Scot closed with a five-under-par 67 in Bahrain to finish on 18-under 270, two shots behind English ace Casey.

It was a great effort in only his second start of the year and even more impressive given the lack of golf Gallacher was able to play in December due to the snow.

"I had played just one round since the Dubai World Championship (in November), but I practised nearly every day," said the 36-year-old after securing a cheque for just over 70,000.

"It wasn't the ideal preparation but it didn't do me any harm. I got the rust out of my system last week (in Abu Dhabi).

"It was good to be in contention because that's what we play for."

It was the third time Gallacher had finished fourth in less than a year on the European circuit, having also achieved the feat in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. "I am quite surprised where I finished, but I played good all week," he added. "After four birdies in succession on the front nine (in the final round) I fancied my chances. But I missed chances on 10, 11 and 13 and that was my chance gone there because the last six holes were playing very tough.

"Now I have two more weeks in the desert (in Qatar and Dubai) and a couple more good finishes would get me into the World Matchplay. I have had a couple of top 10s in Qatar and like the way the course is set up and its linksy feel."

Casey is up to sixth in the world rankings after recording his first win since the 2009.Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, has leapt back above Graeme McDowell in fourth spot after he finished second to Bubba Watson in the Farmers Insurance Open.