While Stephen Gallacher was left in awe of Niagara Falls he already feels very comfortable after his first look at Oak Hill and venue for this week’s PGA Championship.
Having arrived mid-afternoon on Monday into Rochester, Gallacher went to the course to register and then packed his family into his Mercedes courtesy car for the hour long drive west to Niagara Falls.
The American and Bridal Veil falls measure 176-foot high and it’s estimated 156,000 US gallons flow over the falls each second whereas the more spectacular-looking Canadian or ‘Horseshoe’ falls are 170-foot high and with some 600,000 US gallons pouring over the edge each second.
“Niagara Falls is just incredible and I’ve never seen anything like it my life,” said Gallacher.
Scotland’s Stephen Galllacher in awe of Niagara Falls but at east on Oak Hill
“You stand on the edge and you’re just in awe at the amount of water flowing over the falls.
“It’s just an awesome natural feature and just so many tourists visiting the falls.”
He was then back at Oak Hill early yesterday (WED) morning joining fellow Scot for a back nine practice round on the venue staging the season’s final Major.
“From what I’ve seen over the back nine Paul and I just played it’s very, very straight forward,” said Gallacher.
“The great thing this week is that having played the four rounds in Akron should prove to be a great warm-up for this week.“It is very similar golf course to the eye and I feel that could really help my cause.”
Gallacher and Lawrie were oblivious to a plaque lying in the first cut on the left hand side of the 18th marking the spot when American Shaun Micheel hit a 7-iron from 175-yards out to just two inches on the final hole to capture the 2003 PGA Championship.
In contrast, Gallacher hit a 6-iron from a handful of yards less than 200 while Lawrie also hit a 6-iron but from 182-yards.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher looking to make the most of his appearance at Oak Hill. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I watched that shot on the Golf Channel last night and it was pretty amazing given the situation he was staring at,” said Gallacher.
“But I’m just so excited being here.”
And just as excited was young 12-year old son, Jack who walked the course with his father and then was observed on the final green swinging away with a sand wedge as dad practiced his putting.
It is Gallacher’s fourth PGA showing since making his debut in 2005 and his first in two years after missing the cut in the 2012 championship in Atlanta.
Lawrie also got his first look at the golf course where fellow Scots Sam Torrance and Colin Montgomerie had been a member of the victorious 1995 European Ryder Cup team.
There is a plaque on an outside wall of the clubhouse next to a practice putting green to remember the occasion along with plaques of all the individuals who had won major events on Oak Hill.
“The golf course is great and it’s the first time I’ve played here and it’s just beautiful,” said Lawrie.
“I’m not sure why I didn’t play here in 2003, and I think I could have been injured because I would have been exempt.
“So from what I have seen of the golf course so far it’s very good and the last few finishing holes, from 15 through to 18, are great closing holes.
“I’ve come here pleased with my efforts last week at the Bridgestone and if you take Tiger out of the equation and eight under par would have won.
“So I’m looking forward to this week.”
The championship will be Lawrie’s 39th Majors appearance and his sixth in the PGA Championship after making his debut in 1999 but then not having contested the event between 2003 and 2011 inclusive.
And given it is the last Major in eight months before next April’s Masters Lawrie’s wise enough not to get carried away with any extra weight of eagerness or anticipation.
“Playing the majors is where you always want to be but there’s not extra anticipation or whatever as I just treat them all the same,” he said.
“If you make them more important than the other tournaments then you are going to struggle, so I just kind of play them all the same.”
Also on the course Tuesday in front of remarkable crowds, and with still two days to the start of the 95th staging of the tournament, were the other Scots competing this week.
They include Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren who were not in Akron, and arrived earlier in the week than Gallacher and Lawrie, along with Martin Laird and Richie Ramsay.
