Gallacher ready for American Dream

Aug 5 2010 West Lothian Courier

IT is time off this week before probably the biggest challenge of his season so far for Stephen Gallacher.

His move into the world top 100 has given him a place in the USPGA Championship at the sand-strewn and wind-blown dunes that is the magnificent Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

The Linlithgow Golf Centre pro flies out to Chicago on Sunday with coach David Burns, hopefully well rested after one of his least memorable weeks of a great season.

Although he managed a very determined birdie on the tough par four 18th at Killarney to see him into the weekend with nothing to spare in the 3 Irish Open, he would be the first to admit he was not at his best.

There had been a couple of wild shots, totally uncharacteristic of him this term, which must have sapped confidence as they came out of the blue.

Saturday was another modest 72, one over the card, before a return to form on the tournament’s closing day and a five under 66 and a jump up the final placings to earn a decent cheque at the end of it.

Stephen has put away well over half a million pounds in prize money in the last few months and his prospects are a far cry from this time last season when, through ill health, he was doubting whether he would ever be able to get back on tour.

Now it’s the very gruelling US experience, where making the cut will be his first task — not an easy one despite his having got into the weekend of all but one of his last 17 tournaments.

This one is different, a very tough course, and against the best performers in the game and in an alien environment for someone who has mainly plied his trade in Europe.

But if anyone is up to a quick raid on another continent it is Gallacher.

That birdie at the 18th in Ireland last Saturday shows just what he is made of when the going gets tough.

And while he has been looking for a win in recent weeks that can hardly be expected this time round.

He will do himself justice, though, and everyone here in West Lothian wishes him well as he carries the hopes of all his supporters on to one of the biggest golfing stages.