Stephen Gallacher has already arranged one practice round with fellow Scot and former Masters champion Sandy Lyle and is looking to book another with double Augusta winning Jose Maria Olazabal.
Gallacher’s finally confirmed his place in the season’s first Major with his best-ever Stateside finish with joint sixth in the WGC – Cadiallac Championship.
The Scot went to Miami lying 39th in the World Rankings and arrived home to Bathgate jumping two places to 37th and with that the assurance of a first-ever Augusta appearance.
As well, Gallacher has now moved to eighth overall on the Ryder Cup points table and inside the nine that will automatically qualify for Gleneagles.
Stephen Gallacher has arranged for former Masters winner Sandy Lyle to play a first Augusta practice round. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
However he will have to officially wait to the Sunday before the Masters for formal confirmation but Gallacher’s Bounce Management team already booked Augusta residences for he and his family.
It will be only Gallacher’s 13th start in a Major since making his debut at the game’s highest level as a then amateur in the 1995 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Gallacher will also now complete a career goal of playing in all four majors by joining Lyle, and winner of the 1988 Masters, in the season’s first major.
And while there had been some uncertainty over his Augusta appearance, it also hasn’t stop Gallacher organising to play a Masters practice round with Lyle on the Saturday before the year’s first major.
He said: “I was speaking with Sandy at the recent Scottish Golf Awards dinner in Glasgow and we’ve since been in contact, so I’ll head out to Augusta on the Friday before the start of the Masters and play a round with Sandy on the Saturday.
“I watched on TV Sandy winning the 1988 Masters and while he’s remembered for that great shot from the bunker at 18, I can virtually recall every shot he played that last day.
“So that’s going to be great playing my first practice round alongside Sandy.
“I am also trying to get in contact with Jose Maria and play a practice round with him. There can be no better introduction to Augusta than to play alongside past champions, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Another thing also certain is that Gallacher’s 12-year old ‘golf mad’ son, Jack will be caddying for his father in Par Three Contest on the eve of the Masters.
And while Gallacher left Miami late on Sunday night with his best-ever showing in the US in some 13 events, he indicated he won’t be prompted to play more in the States.
He said: “These three events, the two WGCs and last week’s Honda Classic and my very first regular PGA Tour event, has been great experience.
“I played on three tough golf courses but then I liked it. The Honda Classic was my first PGA Tour event and it was only my second time playing both the Match-Play and the Cadillac.
“It’s been great experience but in saying that I don’t want to play in the States full time.
“My two kids, Jack and Ellie, are very much still in school and I would not want to be away from them for long periods.
“It would suit me more just to play around the three Majors over here and the events like last week’s Honda Classic held in between the two WGCs.”
Gallacher’s strong showing in Florida comes four days after fellow Scot Sam Torrance was named as one of Paul McGinley’s two Gleneagles vice-captains.
And while Torrance’s appointment has been widely praised Gallacher confessed he does not find it any added incentive to make McGinley’s team.
He said: “Sam and Des (Smyth) are really good friends of Paul and they both are going to be brilliant for the team.
“But then I don’t think Sam’s appointment is any sort of inspiration for the Scottish players trying to qualify for the team, as it’s a simple case of he’s the best man for the job.
“So no, it doesn’t give me any extra incentive to make the team.”
