Victorious Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was super sympathetic for Stevie Gallacher after the Scot’s early hiccup on day three of the Saudi International.
Gallacher was officially tied for second round lead at 10-under par after completing his remaining six holes early Saturday morning for a three-under par 68 in the storm-affected event.
The Bathgate pro then found himself in the last third round grouping alongside co-leader New Zealander Ryan Fox and with World No. 1 Dustin Johnson looming large just one back at nine under.
Johnson then moved ahead of the World No. 501st ranked Scot and the No. 208th Kiwi on his way to a two-shot lead firing a 66 that included four birdies in 10 holes and then rebounding from a 13th hole double-bogey with a closing pair of birdies and move to 13-under.
Long time good friends Thomas BJorn and Stephen Gallacher and Thomas offering support to Stevie during speaking on Sky Sports Golf at Saudi Arabia. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
Johnson won the inaugural event two years ago but admits he putted better on route to victory then after three rounds compared to this year.
He said: “I would say my game is in better form right now than two years ago but then I holed a lot more putts back in 2019 compared to this year, so far.
“But there’s always tomorrow.”
Johnson is now odds-on favourite to make it four wins from his past nine starts.
And it was a real family affair in the final group with Johnson and his brother, Austin on the bag and Gallacher’s 18-year-old son, Jack caddying for his father.
“It’s cool” says Dustin Johnson seeing Steve Gallacher’s son Jack caddying for his father. (@EuropeanTour)
Johnson said: “It was nice meeting Steve’s son and it’s pretty cool he’s caddying for him.”
Dundee-based Frenchman Victor Perez signed for a 66 to by lying second at 11-under and with four players, including British No. 1 Tyrrell Hatton, and a 66, among four on 10-under par.
Gallacher was in trouble at the par- 3 third hole after a poor tee-shot right into water and walking off with a double-bogey ‘5’. Then at the next, the par-5 fourth hole, he brilliantly chipped to just three-feet but missed his birdie putt.
It sent the Scot back outside the top-10 and with Bjorn commenting on SKY Sports saying: “When you haven’t played your best golf maybe in about 18 months and then all of a sudden you find yourself in a draw on a Saturday, and in the last group, with the World No. 1.
“It gets everybody’s attention and it just gets the competitive juices flowing a little bit higher and it does become difficult.
Gallacher, and the reigning Indian Open champ, dug deep with birdies at the seventh and 10th holes to get back to level but gave them back with successive bogeys at the 11th and 12th holes.
He birdied the 15th for a third day running but misread his par putt on 16 to drop back outside the top-10.
Gallacher finished with a two-over par 72 to slip back five behind Johnson, who is chasing not only a second Saudi title in three years but a fourth win in nine starts.
Crook of Devon’s Calum Hill fired a second straight 68 to be the leading Scot at nine-under par with Robert MacIntyre posting a 65 to be at six-under and David Law (69) well back on one-under.
