For Scottish golfer Stephen Gallacher it’s about keeping it all in the family after being selected to represent Scotland in this year’s World Cup.
Stephen Gallacher delighted to be representing Scotland in this year's World Cup. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Gallacher will team with Colorado-based Martin Laird as Scotland’s representatives in the event starting on November 24th at Hainan Island in China.
Laird as the highest world-ranked Scot and under the World Cup guidelines he has the choice of who will be his partner and he’s chosen Gallacher, who has played in the World Cup once before in 2005 when he teamed with Scott Drummond.
“I got a text message from Martin last Wednesday saying he had picked me for the World Cup, and he said he was looking forward to going to China, am I am too,” said Gallacher.
“I said to him that as long as I don’t have to wear white trousers, I’m your man. Martin’s a bit skinnier and leaner than me.”
But of special pleasure for Gallacher is the chance again to represent Scotland after having represented Scotland 14 times as an amateur.
“It’s always a great honour any time you can represent your country, especially being every two years now, so it gives the World Cup a bit more of an edge,” said Gallacher.
“But then I’ve played team championships for Scotland as an amateur, then you get in the Walker Cup and the Eisenhower and stuff like that.
“So any time you’re picked to play for Scotland is special.”
And after his uncle, Bernard Gallacher competed and then captained a European Ryder Cup side, Gallacher’s looking to the day he can do the same.
Bernard Gallacher made his Ryder Cup debut as a team member in 1969 and represented GB & I again in 1971, ’73, ’75 and ’77 before taking over the European Team captaincy in 1991, ’93 and ’95.
“To get into a Ryder Cup side is the ultimate goal and just because it would keep it in the family,” said Gallacher.
“I was brought up watching the Ryder Cup so it’s been a Gallacher tradition with uncle Bernard playing and competing.
“And you can go back to Eric Brown who captained the G B & I Ryder Cup team (1969 & 1971
“Having two captains in a mining village is pretty special. You don’t get many places like that in the world.
“So I’ve grown up with the Ryder Cup, and everywhere I went it was the Ryder Cup, so while it might be a wee bit far away, it would be tremendous if one day I got to play in the Ryder Cup.”
Gallacher was speaking at Gleneagles and ahead of this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship being staged on the 2014 Ryder Cup host venue.
