Scottish Seve Trophy team members Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher were fighting hard to shake off illness ahead of their showdown against Europe in Versailles.
Lawrie and Trophy debutant Gallacher were both struggling with a mystery virus that forced Lawrie to miss Tuesday night’s team dinner while Gallacher was struggling during today’s 9-hole practice round on the St. Nom-la-Breteche course.
Stephen Gallacher hits off the third hole as Paul Lawrie, Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren look on. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“Chippy (Lawrie) was feeling a bit rough yesterday, and I’m feeling a bit dizzy and weak today,” said Gallacher.
“So I’ve got exactly the same as he’s got but then I a doctor and he’s given me an anti-dizziness table, so I should be okay.
“And being out with the team last night also meant missing the Celtic game but that was a good thing as my nerves are still intact.
“So I’m looking forward to the match-play format this week as it’s something different.
“We’ve got a good bunch of lads too so it should be good craic.”
The four Scots in this week’s Seve Trophy marching down the fairway. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
GB & I’s David Lynn helped his team score an early victory when he super-glued together the first few layers of a pyramid arrangement of European Team practice balls.
The prank caught Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Finland’s Mikko Illonen completely off guard but had Lynn, Paul Casey, Simon Khan, Jamie Donaldson and Torrance roaring with laughter. (See seperate story and make sure to click on the exclusive video)
Gallacher is one five rookies in Torrance’s team but then the Scot is no stranger to St. Nom-la-Breteche having contested the 1994 Lancome Trophy as a 20-year old amateur and in what was just his second European Tour event.
The event was won by Fijian Vijay Singh with Jimenez runner-up and Seve Trophy namesake Seve Ballesteros third ahead of Colin Montgomerie in fourth.
Four GB & I Scotland team member bags side by side at the third green. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I love this course, absolutely love it,” said Gallacher.
“I won the 1994 European Amateur Individual Championship that got me into the Lancome and it was an event that year featuring Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino.”
Lawrie’s illness forced him to bed early on Tuesday night but it wasn’t till around 3am he managed to drop off to sleep.
“I had a hellish last night and I’m still not feeling 100% today,” said Lawrie.
“I was awake watching ‘Royal Pains’ on my DVD player and that made me feel a lot better than I was but then when I spoke to my wife this morning and she just told me to ‘man up’.
