Stephen Gallacher Looks For Three-Peat In Dubai
By Les Bailey
Sep 28, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; European player Rory McIlroy walks up the 18th fairway with a bottle of champagne and with Stephen Gallacher after winning the Ryder Cup on day three during the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort – PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Forty year-old Scottish golfer, Stephen Gallacher says he’s not putting himself under any added pressure this week at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic as he attempts to be one of the few people in golf to win a tournament three consecutive times. The first-time Ryder Cup star in 2014 beat young Argentine, Emiliano Grillo last year for his second victory at the Emirates Golf Course in as many years.
In fact, the European Tour makes two stops in Dubai during the year, and the only name that wasn’t Stephen Gallacher, Rory McIlroy, or Henrik Stenson who has won in Dubai since 2012 was Raphael Cabrera Bello. The Race To Dubai year-end championship is played at the Jumeriah Estates in Dubai each year.
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There has only been five players in European Tour history who have won three consecutive tournaments in three consecutive years.
Ian Woosnam (1990-92 Monte Carlo Open), Sir Nick Faldo (1991-93 Irish Open), Colin Montgomerie (1998-2000 PGA Championship), Tiger Woods (1999-01, 2005-07 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and 2005-07 WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Ernie Els (2002-04 Heineken Classic).
"“I’m going to approach it the same as last year, not try to put too much pressure on myself and just go ahead and enjoy it,” said the Bathgate player, who was also runner-up in this event in 2012. “Hopefully come Sunday, I’m in position to give it a good go.“My plan is to try and not put myself under any pressure. I mean, I’d love to make it three in a row, don’t get me wrong. To win last year on the 25th anniversary was special, with the field and with the history behind it."
Gallacher impressed me last year when he was paired in the first two rounds with Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods. Granted, Tiger didn’t have a stellar season in 2014, but he had just come off a five win season and PGA Player of the Year Award in 2013, and had yet to start having his back problems.
Rory was coming off a horrendous 2013, and had just started his come-back with a win at the Aussie Open, but Gallacher was pounding drives and actually making the super-stars look somewhat mortal.
Tiger shot his only round in the 60’s on Thursday, finished at six under par in a tie for 41 place, and was never a factor. But Rory McIlroy on the other hand, shot an opening round 63, and re-joined Gallacher in the finale’.
Rory shot 74 on Sunday, and shot his way out of contention. The youngsters making a charge on Sunday, was Emiliano Grillo, and Frenchman, Romain Wattell, who both carded a pair of six under 66’s, and Mikko Ilonen who carded a 64.
American Brooks Koepka put up nice numbers on Thursday and Friday to play his way into contention, but a pair of 70′ on the weekend gave the championship to Stephen Gallacher.
Stephen Gallacher has only won three tournaments on the European Tour, and two of them have been here in Dubai. He parlayed his win in 2014 into a top 40 World Ranking, and a spot as the only Scot on the 2014 Ryder Cup team.
Ryder Cup Captain, Paul McGinley told the gritty Scot in July last year that he would not be a captain’s pick so if he wanted to punch a ticket for Gleneagles, he would have to get there on his own.
He didn’t get a win, but a T4 finish at the Scottish Open, a T7 at the Czech Masters, and a solo 3rd at the Open Di Italia would earn him a trip to Scotland where he scored the wining point on Sunday afternoon.
So, if anyone can pull off a third consecutive victory in Dubai this week, my money will be on this 40 year-old Scot that has the grit, and determination to make it happen.
"“It is hard to do,” he said. “I’ve got a chance to do it. I’ve got expectations what I want this week but I’m not going to put myself under any more pressure.“If it happens, brilliant. If it doesn’t as long as I give my best shot at start of the week and 100 per cent at everything, that’s all I can do."
It’s going to be a great week of golf with Tiger Woods returning to Phoenix for the first time in 13 years, the LPGA Tour getting their 205 season underway at the Coats Championship in Florida, and the weekend gets us to the Super Bowl on Sunday evening.
It all starts at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, and you can watch all the action from the United Arab Emirates starting at 11PM Wednesday evening.
Source: EuropeanTour.com