Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher has spoken of a heartfelt letter he received from victorious Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley in the weeks following the Gleneagles encounter against the Americans.

Gallacher was handed a ‘wildcard’ pick by McGinley after just falling short of qualifying automatically.

And while the Scot failed to earn a point he earned the praise of McGinley and his 11 Ryder Cup team-mates.

www.golfbytourmiss.com recently posted a story featuring Ian Poulter and how he went to Gleneagles as a stranger to Gallacher but after the duo were teamed on the first day Poulter says the pair will now become life-long friends.

See:-  http://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2014/12/ian-poulter-stephen-gallacher-no-longer-strangers-after-gleneagles

However at a meeting arranged by Gallacher’s manager this week Scotland’s top golfer revealed the letter sent to him by McGinley, and the confidence he will take into 2015 from those words penned by the Irishman.

Stephen Gallacher with his 2015 PGA Tour ‘Affiliate Membership card. (Photo with kind thanks – The Scotsman)

While www.golfbytourmiss.com could not attend the media meeting with Gallacher thanks to esteemed colleague and close friend Martin Dempster at the Scotsman here is how Gallacher described the letter.

“McGinley sent me a text first and then a letter,” he said. “I’ll probably not show it to many people because it’s a personal letter, but the stuff he said has been brilliant and it’s a mark of the man.

“He talked to me about how I handled being left out, as did a few of my peers. There are 12 guys and you leave your egos at the door. It’s purely the result that you want and it doesn’t matter how it happens.

“Yes, I would have liked to have played a bit more. But would I swap that and get beat? No, I wouldn’t and against Mickelson was probably as good as I’ve played all year.

“But you are playing one of the top guys outwith Tiger [Woods] who has won five majors. Also, if he doesn’t do that he can’t have a go at Watson [as Mickelson did in a press conference that sparked the US task force that has seen been set up]. I held my head up high and I enjoyed it. I desperately want to play it again.”

And Gallacher revealed to Martin and those present that his first trip across ‘The Pond’ this year will be to attend the TaylorMade factory in California to test equipment before commencing his 19th full season in the pro ranks at the January 21st starting Commercial Bank Qatar Masters before then returning to Dubai for the defence of his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.

The Scot will then joined fellow 2014 winning Ryder Cup colleague Graeme McDowell contesting the Maybank Malaysian Open.

And for a second year running Gallacher will be able to map out his full 2015 schedule around the four Majors.

“You never look back,” he said.

“You know you’ve had a good year but all you’re trying to do is bottle that formula and keep doing it. You don’t end up 34th or 35th in the world by having one good year.

“You’ve got to have two or three good years, or it cascades away. I’m getting more consistent. I just want to improve slightly in places, that wee bit here and there – and, who knows, you could be in the top ten as quick as that. It’s such a fine margin.”