It’s been 19 years since Stephen Gallacher stood beside Tiger Woods at a golf tournament.
That was in the 1995 at Royal Porthcawl in Wales with Gallacher a member of the all-conquering GB & I Walker Cup side and Woods, as then double US Amateur champion, on a defeated USA team.
In fact, the then 21-year old Gallacher and fellow Scot Gordon Sherry faced a then 20-year old Woods and his team-mate, John Harris in the very first match but lost 4 & 3 to the visitors.
Tiger Woods competing in the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl
However one of the highpoints of the week was later that first day when GB & I’s Gary Wolstenholme humbled Woods in the Saturday Afternoon Singles.
Gallacher turned pro shortly after while Woods went into 1996 to capture a third straight US Amateur crown and turn pro in September that year.
The pair will come face-to-face on Tuesday in Dubai in a $US 600,000 ‘Former Champions Challenge’ as part of 25th anniversary celebrations for this coming week’s Dubai Desert Classic.
Twenty former Dubai winners, including Gallacher and fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie along with Javier Ballasertos representing his late father, will compete for a first prize of $US 300,000 and $25, 000 each to each placed fourth to last.
Gallacher said: “It’s going to be a great way of celebrating the 25th Dubai Desert Classic and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I haven’t played a match alongside Tiger since the ’95 Walker Cup but I am not all that sure he will remember that.
“Even back to that Walker Cup Tiger had an awe about him, and you could see then he was going to have the career he’s had.
“But I won’t be too much in awe of him on Tuesday and it will be good to play with him”.
Joining the three-ball on Tuesday will be legendary Fred Couples winner of the 1995 Dubai Desert Classic plus a past Masters champion and captain of the past two victorious USA Presidents Cup sides.
And it’s Couples that Gallacher confessed he’s looking to meet most of us.
He said: “I’ve always like Fred Couples as he has charisma about him. He just looks and acts so cool.
“He’s about the coolest golfer on the planet.
“When I was growing up and started watching golf on TV, Freddie was always right up winning the Masters in ’92 and playing on Ryder Cup and World Cup sides.
“He’s just a flamboyant person, and his swing hasn’t changed. It’s ageless.
“So while it’s going to be great playing alongside Tiger and Freddie, it would be fabulous to finish in front of them, and also in front of them later in the week.”
