Gallacher is ready to wait a year for Ryder Cup
Stephen Gallacher was the local hero, with fans cheering him on every hole, as he lived his Ryder Cup experience.
So he finds it hard to imagine the biggest spectacle in golf being played out behind closed doors for this year’s match at Whistling Straits.
That is one of the options as the PGA of America, the European Tour and the TV broadcasters, discuss all eventualities for the event, scheduled for September 25-27 in Wisconsin.
Gallacher sampled the love of the Gleneagles galleries in 2014 as Europe were roared on to a convincing home win.
The same has happened in subsequent matches – at Hazeltine for the USA, and Europe once more at Le Golf National – and he recognises the part they play in making the Ryder Cup so popular.
“Imagine the World Cup Final, the Olympics or the Super Bowl without fans – you can’t,” says Gallacher, nephew of three-time Ryder Cup skipper, Bernard Gallacher.
“It’s the same for the Ryder Cup.
“The fans are an integral part of the event, and that is when the magic happens. Players are inspired by it.
“Facing the pressure and the large galleries is part of the event, and you can’t replicate the pressure.
“Because of the huge crowds, you play better and have more adrenaline. When theyarenotthere,itisnotthe same.
“You want them there to watch, whether it’s the deathly silence on the tee or Bubba Watson-style roars.
“You want the incredible nerves that creates, and that is why you bust your gut to make the team.”
Gallacher’s first match at Gleneagles saw him take to the
arena alongside two players synonymous with the biennial match.
His fourball partner was Europe’s talisman Ian Poulter, while they were up against “Captain America” Patrick Reed and his sidekick Jordan Spieth, with the American duo on fire in a 5&4 win.
Poulter and Reed are fearsome opponents on this stage, and Gallacher recognises the qualities they use in that situation.
“As a player, you are either trying to silence the crowd or get them on your side,” he explains. “That is part of the game.
“Poulter and Reed are brilliant at it. That’s why they do well and win points.
“The fans do have an effect. They make you feel that bit taller, and they can pick you up and keep you going if you’re not doing so well.
“It’s hard to put into words because it’s such a lift and something you don’t see when you are playing for yourself.”
Gallacher is waiting patiently at home with his family in Linlithgow as coronavirus has brought golf to a standstill.
Tournament play is due to restart on June 11 on the PGA Tour, but it will not be until the end of July at the earliest on the European Tour.
The 45-year-old accepts that it will be behind closed doors, as the need to get the sport up and running again is all-important.
But the Ryder Cup different.
“It’s something special like a Lions Tour in rugby,” he adds. “You want to watch it because so much is at stake and there is a special process into making the team.
“Would it be so bad to postpone it for a year? I don’t know.
“Wimbledon and The Open
is weighed it up and decided it wouldn’t be right. They decided just to come back next year.
“They have the luxury of that, whereas there is more politics involved in the Ryder Cup.
“It would certainly be a strange scenario for the players if it did go ahead with no fans. But they would go with it and they’d still be desperate to win.”
It would be a unique situation for European captain Padraig Harrington if that was the case, but it wouldn’t faze the Irishman.
He and Gallacher were team-mates on the successful Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team in 1995 as amateurs and Stephen knows he’s the right man for the job.
“Padraig has a great desire and will to win,” he says. “He’s a straight talker and a fierce competitor and he’s done well over in America.
“He’s the perfect man for Europe to be an away captain.”