Stephen Gallacher was fortunate not to serious injury his right hand after ‘sacrificing’ a club in playing a shot during the final round of the BMW PGA Championship.
Gallacher found himself up against a tree down the right side of the par five 17th and knowing he would be facing a more serious injury in using a more lofted club, he went with a 4-iron.
The club wrapped itself around the tree with Gallacher then seen shaking his right hand vigorously.
Fortunately, he had sense to immediately pour cold water over the hand but then in shaking hands with his son, Jack following his round of 66 for a fifth spot on nine under par, he remarked to Jack: “Be careful of my thumb”,
However Gallacher soon played down the incident and will get the shaft replaced in the club when he arrived in Sweden for this week’s Nordea Masters.
Stephen Gallacher was lucky to avoid serious hand injury after smashing his 4-iron into a tree aat the 17th hole on the final day of the 2014 BMW PGA. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages).
He said: “I knew a club had to get sacrificed and that’s why I hit a 4-iron and a club I don’t hit a lot, and if I had of used a wedge I would have smacked my hand a beauty.
“That’s what happens and it’s a dangerous sport, golf (smiling).
“The thumb’s okay apart from being a big fat and starting to go black and blue, so I’m alright though I will go and have it looked at.
“But I will take a lot of confidence from how I played this week and it’s just great that all the guys came over from the States to play this week, and besides this is the form I want to play for the next few months, so I am off to a good start.”
Gallacher’s effort was a best since finishing fourth in 2010 and only the fourth time in 15 straight showings at Tour HQ he’s managed to play all four rounds.
The Bathgate pro picked up a prize cheque for £149,633 and looks likely to jump two places to 13th in the Ryder Cup points table.
He said: “Ultimately, the only way I will qualify is keep making points in the big tournaments, and this week is another jump up the points table.
“It’s adding another building block and I’m just setting out what I’ve always been trying to do.
Gallacher’s also set to improve his 40th place on the World Rankings ahead also in teeing-up in next month’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
Greenock’s Chris Doak had to receive medical advice and injections ahead of his final round 71 for a seven under par total.
He said: “The doctor says I have Labyrinthitis which is a middle ear infection. I felt really dizzy this morning but felt fine over the second half of the round, and it was nice to birdie the last two holes.”
Though there was plenty of comfort for Doak with a prize cheque of £61,187 and his highest-ever Tour cheque that’s seen him jump 39 spots to 87th on the Race to Dubai money list.
Doak will join Marc Warren, who posted a final day 69 for a six under total, at today’s (MON) 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Walton Heath and looking for a repeat of 2012 when he won through to the U.S. Open at Olympic Hills in San Francisco.
He said: “Despite four tough days here at Wentworth there’s still plenty of gas in the tank for Walton Heath, and finishing with a nice round like is great confidence to take into tomorrow’s 36-holer.
“I remember two years ago I finished here at Wentworth with a pair of 72s and was pretty downhearted going to Walton Heath not wanting to play but qualified.
“Then there was last year I played great all week in the BMW PGA and, of course, losing in the play-off but went to the qualifier and couldn’t hit my hat, so that just shows you how big a part the mental side is with this game.
“I’ve also played Walton Heath four times now so I know both courses pretty well.”
