Stephen Gallacher shrugged off any lingering back pain with three closing birdies on day one of the Omega European Masters at Crans Montana, Switzerland.
A niggling lower back complaint last week at Wales forced the Scot out after just a few second round holes but Gallacher showed no ill effects in glorious conditions on the Alpine course.
He said: “No, the back is fine and it’s good to finally shake off the concern as it an issue a fortnight ago at Gleneagles and then it was hurting so bad on Friday last week, I just couldn’t continue.”
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher shrugs off back injury to stand tall with a 67 on day o2013 Omega European Masters. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Gallacher trails four shots behind Indian golfer, Anirban Lahiri who is still recovering a collateral ligament injury in his right knee that he had wrapped under four layers of bandage.
However it didn’t deter the 28-year old Bangalore golfer snatching two eagles, including holing a 138-yard second shot at 18, to lead the field by two strokes with an eight under par 63.
A year ago on his first visit to Switzerland Lahiri nearly suffered frost bite. He was sharing fourth with a 66 on day one but then got caught out with a sharp change in the weather posting an 81 to hopelessly miss the cut.
He said: “It’s nice to come back here with a bang as it was a tough pill to swallow last year missing the cut in the manner I did, so I’m delighted.
“But playing here last year was a new experience for me as I went out in the second morning with about four layers on and after three to four holes I was sweating like a pig.
“The next thing I knew I had to peel off some clothes but then the clouds rolled in and the wind got up and I started then feeling like an icicle on the back nine.”
David Drysdale and Paul Lawrie posted three under par 68s with Lawrie finishing bogey, birdie, birdie and bogey.
Marc Warren was three over par after three holes but produced an avalanche four birdies in his closing five holes for a 70.
He said: “It wasn’t the best of starts but I’m pleased to be able to pull a few back there at the end.
“I’m hoping to continue my good form this week and then next week in Holland before a week off and get ready for the Dunhill Links.”
And defending champ, Richie Ramsay had four birdies but found himself buried under four bogeys and a 14th hole double in a round of 73.
All Ramsay would say was: “I just had the wrong attitude out there today.”
