For all but one hole Stephen Gallacher clearly upstaged World No. 1 Rory McIlroy at his own game in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Invitational in the UAE capital.
Gallacher was four shots ahead of McIlroy at five under par standing on the 16th tee, and after five birdies, including birdies at the first two holes, and just a third hole bogey on the stunning Kyle Phillips designed Yas Links course.
But after remarkably out-driving McIlroy on so many occasions, Gallacher leaked a drive right into rough and despite the efforts of some 100 spectators the Scot’s ball was not located.
Knowing eventual winner South African Darren Fichardt was in the clubhouse with an eight under par 64, and with to prize money for the only leading three, Gallacher elected to rule himself out of the event rather than return to the tee and eventually settle for a cheque for $US 4,000.
Rory McIlroy and Stephen Gallacher chatting often during the round on the Yas Links course.
Had Gallacher not lost a ball it would have been the second straight occasion he had finished in front of McIlroy after ending four shots clear of the Northern Irishman over the final day to seal last year’s double Dubai Desert Classic success.
Despite the mishap the duo clearly have become the best of friends since last September’s Ryder Cup spending the five-and-a-half hours chatting at every opportunity.
The topics of discussion ranged from the design of golf shoes, the merits of eating goat meat, how much time each spends in the gym and whether or not laser yardage devices should be used in men’s pro tournament competition.
“It’s good for me to be playing alongside Rory because he’s World No. 1 not by fluke, so I don’t feel too proud asking him questions about what he’s done to help him get there,” said Gallacher.
“Rory’s such a good lad, too, and that makes it easier to talk to about his golf.
Stephen Gallacher tees off the 14th with his caddy Damien Moore in front and with Rory McIlroy and his caddy, Claudine Foong looking on.
“I’ve played with him a fair bit now and also spent a week with him at the Ryder Cup and I think we are comfortable in each other’s company, which is always a great thing. He’s a great role model for everyone in the game.
“He was asking me if I’d ever eaten goat and I said ‘no’. They don’t do goat suppers in Bathgate.
“But when you get to 33rd in the world, climbing even higher than that becomes more a mental thing and that’s one of the things I was talking to Rory about today. I had a good year last season and it’s about making slight improvements to keep getting better and climbing those world rankings.”
McIlroy confessed he had not known Gallacher that well prior to the Ryder Cup, but then it was McIlroy who led a ‘player chorus’ calling on Gallacher be handed one of Paul McGinley’s two wildcard picks.
“I have found myself the last couple of years playing more and more with Stephen including when we were paired in the last round of the Dubai Desert Classic,” said McIlroy.
“That win got Stephen into the top-50 in the world, so last year we found ourselves playing in the same tournaments.
Spectators looking for but failing to find Stephen Gallacher’s ball right off the 16th fairway.
“But then it was the Ryder Cup that brought us closer together, and we spent a lot of time together there at Gleneagles.
“That’s the great thing about the Ryder Cup because you do get to know guys a lot better, and guys who you didn’t really know that well so playing in a Ryder Cup becomes like a bond between those in the team.
“And the good thing is that while you are together for that week, the friendships that week will remain forever because when anyone looks back, your name is forever associated with that particular Ryder Cup and that’s how it will be now for Stephen and myself.
“Then I am not sure if either of us can remember that photo of Stephen and me, and with me topless wearing a kilt (laughing).
“But seriously I’ve only seen Stephen a few times since Gleneagle but then when do catch up like today it’s totally different, and playing with alongside him here at Yas Links was really enjoyable.
“On Tuesday night we are playing the Dubai Desert Classic ‘Former Champions Challenge’ and I’m sure organisers we pair us together for the first two rounds.”
Both Gallacher and McIlroy were then attending a black tie gala dinner at the Viceroy Hotel that overlooks the Yas Island Marina Formula One circuit located virtually across the street from the golf course.
Gallacher will then host a TaylorMade outing at the Els Club in Dubai this afternoon local UAE time (Monday) before preparing for the defence of his Dubai Desert Classic title.
However Gallacher is also set to test drive the new TaylorMade R15 driver at the Els Club but the last thing the Scot needs is to go changing clubs ahead of his Desert Classic defence given how well he played at Yas Links using the same R13 driver that steered to success a year ago.
“The R13 has been in the bag since Doral last February band they’ve got the new R15 out now and it will be interesting to see if it can match or beat the one I’ve got,” he said.
“You’ve always got to test out the new kit and that’s how I’ll be spending tomorrow at a TaylorMade event at The Els Club in Dubai.
“It’s easier to be going into an event as the defending champion and last year I had no expectations at all going into the Dubai Desert Classic. I’ll just go there again with the same game plan. I played the course twice last week and I’m looking forward to going back there again as the defending champion.”
However as Gallacher’s caddy Damien Moore explained: “If it ain’t broke, why fix it”.
