Stephen Gallacher will be looking to lower Rory McIlroy’s colours for a second time in a year when the duo tee-up in today’s (SUN) Abu Dhabi Invitational on the Yas Links course in the UAE.
The Gleneagles winning duo will be among 58 pros competing in the $500,000 one day Pro-Am with $100,000 to the winner but half going to a charity of their choice.
Joining the pair is defending champ Richie Ramsay, double Major winning Sandy Lyle and Carly Booth, and one of two women golfers representing the Ladies European Tour.
Gallacher played alongside McIlroy on the final day of last year’s 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic finishing four shots clear of the curly-haired Northern Irishman for the Scot to retain the title.
Double Dubai winner Stephen Gallacher looking to finish in front of Rory McIlroy at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Invitational.(Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
However Gallacher will tee up in the UAE capital alongside McIlroy as a now a four-time Major winner and the World No. 1, and also just a week after McIlroy recorded his fourth second place finish in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
But that won’t deter Gallacher on a Kyle Phillips designed course, and despite its Middle East location, has many of the features of the Phillips designed Kingsbarn in Fife, and where Gallacher walked on route to victory in the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Gallacher said: “I’ve won the Invitational before so it would be nice to win it again as it’s a great day’s golf and also helps out a lot of charities.
“I’m playing alongside Rory which is nice and it will be the first time since last year’s Dubai Desert Classic.
“He’s now the best player in the world so it’s always nice to test your game against players of that calibre but then what happened in the final round in Dubai last year will count for nothing.
“Of course, I am looking to win the Invitational but as for taking any credit it is next Sunday in Dubai when I want to finish in front of Rory and that would be the bigger scalp”.
Gallacher headed to Abu Dhabi having shared 33rd place in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and his opening event of 2015.
It was Gallacher’s lowest round of the week after earlier scores of 68, 75 and 72, and with the day highlighted when he drove the green at the short par four 16th and holed a 12-foot putt for eagle.
He said: “I was just a bit rusty but I feel I will be a lot stronger in now having played four full rounds to start my new season.
“After posting the 75 on day two it was nice to make the cut and get to more rounds under my belt before my defence in Dubai next week.
“It was a good back nine to finish in five under par so I was really pleased with that.
“The good aspect of my game is that my short game is in good shape and I only have to sort out my driving but then I’m going to be testing the R15 driver on Monday.”
