Stephen Gallacher delighted in celebrating the start of a 25th full season with a gutsy 69 on day one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Gallacher emerged from a near 3-hour fog delay and race to three-under par through just five holes but then gave the three shots back at the 10th and 11th holes in the UAE capital.
The Bathgate pro bogeyed the par-5 10th and doubled the next to find himself back at level par before superbly regrouping with birdies at 13, 15 and 17 for his 69.
Stephen Gallacher bounces back with a 69 on the opening day of his 25th season on Tour
He said: “I got off to a good start and just hit two poor shots on the same hole that kind of knocked me back a wee bit when I was looking to going forward than dropping down.
“So, I am delighted with the way I finished though I missed a chance there at the last there but then to shoot three-under after throwing it away but then getting it back again was pleasing especially as I’ve not played for six weeks”.
Gallacher, and like Rory McIlroy who heads the $5.8m event with a 64, was also teeing-up in his 39th round on the National course but unlike the current World No. 6 the Scot has broken par now on just seven occasions.
But thanks to heading out a week earlier to nearby Dubai the now 46-year-old sounds as excited to play as he was in making his full season Tour debut in March 1996.
Gallacher said: “I have been practicing hard in the frost and everything, down at the range at Kingsfield. I came out early on Monday of last week and it’s paid off.
“I also spent three days up at the Els Club working with a new golf ball while I’ve also used that time to recheck all my equipment which was important, so it’s all been worth it.
“I’ve changed ball and few little tweaks a few things in the way you set-up the clubs and stuff like that but nothing major but then it’s good to get them cemented in so that you know you have the right kit and everything heading into a new season.”
The fog delay meant only half the field had finished with just four of the nine Scots completing their rounds.
Robert MacIntyre, and playing alongside Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, posted a 72 while David Drysdale a 73 and Richie Ramsay a 74.
Best of the Scots still to finish round one is Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest who birdied his opening three holes to be two-under through six holes.
