Stevie-G can’t wait to take his game back to the future
Gallacher at the Ryder Cup in 2014 at Gleneagles with caddie Damian Moore. European Tour. It feels like it’s going in the right direction, and the gap is closing between us and the PGA Tour.
“The Tour is so strong now that anyone can win. The strength- in- depth of fields is probably the biggest difference since I came out here.
“That can be seen in the number of first- time winners that we’ve had in the last couple of years.
“The conditions of the courses are now better than ever, the greens are firmer and the standard of play is high. This is really a great time to be playing.”
Gallacher’s injury woes of 2016 wiped out any chance of a second Ryder Cup appearance at Hazeltine last autumn.
He is not ruling out making Thomas Bjorn’s team in 2018. However, due to his currentWorld Ranking of 363, the Bathgate golfer knows it will take a lot of good golf.
“It’s definitely a long- term goal,” he says. “First I need to climb up the rankings. I will need to be in the Majors and the WGC events at the start of next year to have a real chance.
“It’s an 18-month project. If I’m playing well, then I can give it a full shot because there is lots of money up for grabs.
“If you peak at the right time, and for the right tournaments, you have a hell of a chance. I have done it before, so I know what I need to do.
“My ranking is low right now because I’ve not been playing. I know that a couple of top- five finishes and I can get close to the top 100 again.
“I have been as high as 29th and my game is as good as when I was up there.”
Stephen wasn’t alone with his struggles last year as there was not a single Scottish winner on the European Tour.
He would love to put that right in 2017 and insists there is no need for panic about the Scottish game.
“It’s really tough to win on the European Tour and it’s certainly not through a lack of trying,” he declares.
“It goes in cycles. If one of us can get over the line, then three or four guys might win a tournament.
“There’s nothing to worry about, though. If we keep plugging away and get in contention, one of us will do it.”
Graeme Storm.