Gallacher feeling upbeat as Scots come out of cold storage in Oman
Stephen Gallacher is aiming to build on his best finish in just under a year as Scotland’s European Tour players come out of cold storage in the Oman Open this week.
It’s the first outing for Gallacher and most of his compatriots since the Saudi
International marked the end of the circuit’s first leg of a Middle East Swing at the beginning of the month.
This leg also includes the Qatar Masters, with Gallacher heading into both events feeling better about his game than the four-time European Tour winner has for some time.
His confidence received a massive boost as he signed off with a splendid 66 in testing conditions in Saudi Arabia to finish joint-21st in the Saudi International – his best effort since landing the Hero Indian Open last March.
“I got better as the week went on,” said the 45-year-old of that performance, which came on the back of missed cuts in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the latter being particularly disappointing as a two-time Omega Desert Classic winner.
“It was a great one for me to build on for coming back out here for Oman and Qatar and then my title defence in India.”
Joining the Lothians man at Al Mouj in Muscat are David Drysdale, Scott Jamieson, Paul Lawrie, Calum Hill, Richie Ramsay, Grant Forrest, David Law and Connor Syme, with Bob Macintyre sitting out this week before heading to Qatar.
Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer, who has been in good form since reuniting with caddie Craig Connelly for a third time, heads a field that also includes China’s Haotong Li.
Meanwhile, Craig Ross cemented his top-10 position in the MENA Tour’s Journey to Jordan rankings as three Scots finished to the fore in the Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open.
Calum Fyfe (70) and Ryan Lumsden (71) ended in a tie for third on seven-under, two shots ahead of Ross in jointseventh.