Stephen Gallacher kept his Gleneagles dream alive with a back nine birdie blitz on day two of the Italian Open in Turin.
After eagling the first but then taking a double bogey at the sixth, Gallacher cut a swath through the leader board to birdie six of his inward half holes including four in succession from the 14th hole in a round of a seven under par 65 and head to the weekend at seven under par.
It left the double Dubai Desert Classic champion sharing ninth place but eight strokes behind South African Henni Otto who himself stormed to a three shot lead at 15-under par with a career-best 10-under par 62.
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, with a pair of 66s, is in second place on 12-under par with England’s Ross Fisher also shooting a 66 to be in third spot on nine under par.
Stephen Gallacher about to get his second round underway with an eagle at the first hole on day two of the 2014 Italian Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Gallacher went to Turin as the only player who could alter the current make-up of the European Ryder Cup team but with the pressure of needing to finish top-two to unseat Graeme McDowell and secure the ninth and final automatic spot ahead of Paul McGinley announcing his three ‘wildcard’ picks at 12.30pm next Tuesday.
It was a big ask for Gallacher given he’s not contested the event in four years since missing the cut in the 2010 event while he fared no better a year earlier.
And despite trailing Otto by eight shots Gallacher’s up for the challenge over the closing 36-holes.
However after also missing two cuts Stateside the golfer who lives just 30 miles from Gleneagles bounced back in Prague last week with a share of seventh inthe Czech Masters.
And Gallacher’s clearly shown his desire to McGinley by electing to compete in Italy.
“It was a great way to finish especially when I pegged it up on the start of my round that I was already 15 behind Henni and 12 shots behind second, so that was a strange feeling and I knew I had to go low,” said Gallacher.
“I didn’t watch any of it on TV and it was only when I was in the clubhouse having some lunch before going out that someone said Henni Otto has moved to 10 or 11 under.
“But even though I’ve finished eight behind him there’s still two rounds to go and a lot can happen but at least I’ve given myself chance and that’s all I can do.
“So I hope I can keep playing as well as I played that back nine.”
Gallacher kick-started his second round eagling the par five first hole but looked headed for the weekend off when he doubled the par four sixth hole.
However birdies at the 10th and 12th holes steadied his round before Gallacher picked off four birdies in a row from the par four 14th when he chipped in from off the green.
“Hennie’s 10-under was pretty special and the good thing is that you don’t get too many of those in a tournament,” said the Scot.
“So if I can shoot a good low one tomorrow and stay in the moment and be patient then you never know and hopefully that will put me in contention.
“That’s all I can ask for.”
Fellow Scot Richie Ramsay added a 69 to his opening 67 to be lying in a five-way share of fourth place at eight under par.
“Anything under 70 in the conditions you have to play well for so I am happy with a 69,” said Ramsay.
“It was also nice to birdie the last but the key was trying to stay patient and trying to go out and enjoy my golf.
“But I was trying to play like being a kid again and just stand up and hit the ball without thinking of too about too many things.
“It’s not easy thinking that way but I had a bit of a lull in the middle of my season also battling a few injuries but I had a lot of people around me who have been very supportive.
“So when you are not playing well, you have to enjoy the moments when you do play well.”
