Stephen Gallacher not only has the goal of making the European Ryder Cup team on his mind but he’s focusing also on the double delight in securing PGA Tour membership.
Gallacher is currently $US 194,792 shy of 125th place on the PGA Tour money list and with the cut-off point being August 17th for retaining full membership for the 2014/15 wraparound schedule.
It’s why the 39-year old Scot sought and has received an invitation to contest the August 14th commencing $US 5.3m Wyndham Championship being played in Greensboro, North Carolina in the week following next week’s PGA Championship.
Double Dubai winner Stephen Gallacher now also targeting PGA Tour card. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
It means Gallacher will have this week’s $US 9m WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and next week’s $US 10m PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky and now the Wyndham Championship to get himself ‘unofficially’ inside the top-125 and be eligible for ‘Temporary PGA Tour Membership’.
“I thought to myself that given I am so close to being inside the top-125 on the money list over here I might as well try and secure my PGA Tour card,” he said.
“So if I have a decent three weeks over here then I can become a member of the Tour, and besides it’s another option for me.
“And since retaining my Omega Dubai Desert Classic title earlier this year I’ve been inside the top-50 on the World Rankings so that’s allowed me to play in all these bigger events.”
However foremost on Gallacher’s mind is securing his place on the European Ryder Cup team.
Gallacher arrived in Akron, and the first city in the world to host an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting with the sobering thought he’s just two places outside of breaking into the top-nine that will automatically qualify for Paul McGinley’s side.
“Qualifying for the Ryder Cup has been my goal for nearly two years now and nothing has changed,” said Gallacher.
“And like trying to secure my PGA Tour, I have the opportunity by playing well this week and next week at the PGA Championship and that’s all I can do.”
Gallacher is making just his third appearance in the Bridgestone Invitational and finds himself also the only Scot in the no halfway cut 77-player event where Tiger Woods, as defending champion, will be looking to capture the tournament for a ninth occasion.
