Crocked Scot Stevie still in the hunt in Turkey

STEPHEN Gallacher was heading into day three of the Turkish Airlines Open in a share of fourth as he sent out a warning to beware the injured golfer.

While big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts fortified his stronghold at the top of the leaderboard with a second consecutive 64 to lead by four on 14-under, Scots ace Gallacher came flying up into the top five with a fine 65 for an eightunder tally.

Gallacher continues to make purposeful strides on the Regnum Carya course despite a pre-tournament mishap that left him in pain and considering withdrawing from the event before it had started.

The former Ryder Cup player, 43, said: “I did it jumping out of a buggy coming back from the range and just went over on my ankle. In fact, I had my bags packed on Thursday morning. I was for the off. I wasn’t going to play.

“It’s a bad sprain. The tendons are a bit inflamed and bruised. When you get older, you get all sorts of things happening to you.”

“I woke up the next morning and it was both swollen and bruised. But Dingers [European Tour physio Ian Dingwall] strapped it. I’m strapped up like you wouldn’t believe and I’m also taking tablets. If it wasn’t for the physio, I wouldn’t be playing.”

Gallacher’s game was certainly in rude health and, for the second consecutive round, he signed for a bogey-free card. Six birdies were scribbled down too.

Colsaerts is certainly happy with the way things are going as he upped his bid for a first European Tour win since 2012, four birdies over his first six holes helping him on his way to back-to-back 64s.

“I had to work a little bit more for this one,” he admitted. “Day one was kind of eyes closed and everything felt like it fell in my lap. This round was more satisfying, to shoot the same score but having to go out and find it a little bit more.”