Stephen Gallacher is firstly Augusta bound and also closer to playing later this year at Gleneagles after taming the Blue Monster on the final day of the WGC – Cadillac Championship in suburban Miami.

Gallacher silenced any doubt of not contesting a maiden Masters appearance with a last round 69 that saw the Scot end his round then sharing eighth place on one over par and eventually settling for a share of sixth place on one over par and just five shots adrift of Texas-born Patrick Reed who pocketed the $US 1.53m first prize cheque.

Gallacher went into the final round of the $US 9m event sharing 21^st place at four over par and six shots from the lead.

Stephen Gallacher could well be preparing to make his Ryder Cup debut after his best-ever finish in the States – sharing sixth in the WGC Cadillac Championship; (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)

However the Bathgate pro soon jumped in the overtaking lane picking off birdies at his opening two holes with putts of six foot and 13-feet before finding the right edge of the green at par five eighth hole in two and holing a six-inch putt to move back to even par since his 11^th hole on Thursday.

And despite playing his inward nine in one over par after a bogey at the 16^th there is no denying Gallacher is Augusta bound.

“I teed-up today thinking a sub-70 would be a nice reward for my week so to shoot a sub-70 and I managed to achieve that,” he said.

“I played good all week actually.  It’s just the wind the first couple of days just got the better of us, a couple of loose shots at the wrong time and I had three double‑bogeys.

“But today I played great, coming down the stretch was pretty tough.  The wind switched into.  But it was good.  I’m happy, very happy.

“And finishing top-10, I’ll take that.”

The effort is easily Gallacher’s  best finish in 13 events Stateside since 2005 including his prior best of T18th in the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

The Scot arrived in southern Florida lying 39^th on the World Rankings and should pick up three spots when the rankings are adjusted later the morning (MON).

Gallacher has a fortnight at home before heading out to Malaysia for the inaugural Eurasia Cup in suburban Kuala Lumpur before returning to the States for the April 10^th starting Masters.

“I think I’m now pretty certain I have cemented my Masters place,” he said.

“I’m 39^th in the world and all I’ve been trying to do is stay top‑50 for the end of the month so hopefully that will do it now.”

If fact, Gallacher needs to be top-30 as at April 6^th, and the Sunday prior the Masters, to be assured of an Augusta invitation.

However with Gallacher not contesting any stroke play events prior to the Masters a PGA Tour official indicated ‘there is no way Gallacher will drop out of the top-50 between now and then’.

Gallacher’s Florida effort should also see him leap a likely four places to 11^th on the European Ryder Cup points table.