GALLACHER IN ANXIOUS WAIT FOR WILDCARD
IT SAYS much about Stephen Gallacher’s standing both as a man and a golfer that virtually the entire European Tour community came together yesterday to get behind his stirring bid to claim a Ryder Cup place.
From Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell in America to countless members of the tour on this side of the Atlantic, they all watched engrossed as the Scot came agonisingly close to pulling off the top-two finish at the Italian Open that would have guaranteed him the final place in the automatic standings.
All day his fate hung in the balance as he launched a terrific bid to nudge out G-Mac for the one spotp that was still in doubt goingg into the last day of qualifying. g.
Ultimately, after a yearrlong campaign, it all l boiled down to the final hole of the final event at Turin golf club. Gallacher had to hole a bunker shot to get the birdie he needed but his effort fell just short. All l those thousands of strokes played during the course of the past 12 months onths and in the end they came tot one too many. He finished just 1.16 points behind McDowell.
Now Gallacher will have to wait until tomorrow lunchtime to see whether his final-round 65 for third place behind South African Hennie Otto and Englishman David Howell has earned him a Ryder Cup debut as one of the three wildcards.
With Ian Poulter certain of one, it means captain Paul McGinley has the unenviable task of choosing two players between Gallacher and a pair of former world No 1s and Ryder Cup stalwarts in Luke Donald and Westwood. Certainly if McGinley had been making his choice last night, he might have found it hard to resist the sentiments expressed.
‘Go on Stevie Gallacher,’ tweeted McIlroy, midway through the round, while G-Mac concluded: ‘ Fantastic performance from Stevie G these past two weeks (Gallacher finished seventh at the Czech Open last week). He would be a huge asset to the team and has made a massive case for a pick.’ Among the Euro Tour loyalists the feeling wwas, perhaps understandaa b l yy, even stronger. FelFellow Scot Paul Lawrie ththought it a ‘ no brainer’ ththat he should get a pick, wwhile Spaniard Pablo LLarrazabal tweeted: ‘All Scotland, all Europe wants Gallacher in the team.’ Recognising this was no atmosphere in which to make such a big call, McGMcGinley told Sky Sports last ninight: ‘ His performance will count strongly in his favour when it comes to making the picks but there is a lot of emotion at the moment. Let’s put a little cold water on it.’
Also counting strongly in Gallacher’s favour is the fact the match, which starts on September 26, is being held at Gleneagles, there are no Scots in the team . . . and he lives just 34 miles from the venue. Furthermore, he has a fine record in tour events staged on the Centenary Course that will host the matches.
The nephew of Bernard, a man steeped in Ryder Cup lore, of course, Gallacher came into the final event under immense pressure with so little margin for error. He’s hardly had a week off all summer in his desperate attempts to make the team, so no wonder he left for home last night thoroughly content with his efforts.
‘It was a tall order but I am proud of the way I have played,’ said the 39-year-old. ‘I’m delighted I shot 17 under for the week. It’s just a little short and now I have to hope I have done enough to get one of the three picks. I gave it my best shot and I have to hope Paul likes what he sees, but we all know there are four or five guys worthy of wildcards.’
Howell shot a wonderful 63 to snatch the runner-up spot but you could see that effectively denying Gallacher an automatic spot with his best finish of the season added up to a mixed blessing.
Summing up the feeling of the men who play week after week alongside Gallacher in Europe, he said: ‘I really hope Stephen gets a pick because he would make a fantastic Ryder Cup player. It was a supreme effort and if a captain needs an example of a player in form who can play under pressure, he has had it this weekend.’