The 48-year-old finished 173rd in the Race to Dubai Rankings last season, which would have normally forced him to lose his card. However, the 48-year-old’s standing on the career money list should have been enough to qualify him for the tour this season. A clerical error mistakenly revoked his card, and it wasn’t until recently that the DP World Tour noticed its oversight.

Over the months of not being on the DP World Tour, Gallacher — the 2013/14 back-to-back Dubai Desert Classic champ — went back to qualifying school for the first time since 2009 but was unable to win back full status. The Scotsman has been able to play here and there due to sponsor exemptions and his DP World Tour and Challenge Tour category, but he’ll certainly be gung-ho to play a full season again now that his card’s been unrevoked.

“Golf has to be one of the most unique sports in how things go for you and against you and, throughout my career, like everybody else, you experience a vast range of highs and lows,” Gallacher told The Scotsman. “This has to be one of the better days as it allows me the opportunity to plan my season properly and look to lock down my playing privileges again … It’s been a volatile time in the world of golf with various people coming and going across all our tours, so I know how challenging things have been to administer.”

That’s quite an impressive response from Gallacher who was also granted a special exemption into 2024 to make up for the time that he erroneously missed. The Scotsman reported that the change in Gallacher’s status was conveyed to his fellow DP World Tour members in a communication from the circuit’s Competitions and Membership Department on Wednesday. The DP World Tour also expressed an “unreserved apology” for the oversight.

“I can only thank DP World Tour for firstly holding their hands up and explaining the error but, more importantly, sorting things out so quickly to allow me to get cracking properly again,” Gallacher said.

The post Oops: DP World Tour gives veteran Gallacher his card back after admin error sidelined him for six months appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

That impressive stable of champions is led by Alvaro Quiros with seven DP World Tour wins, including victories at the 2011 Hero Dubai Desert Classic and 2011 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. David Howell, who also lifted the Dallah Trophy in 1999, is a five-time DP World Tour winner, while Matteo Manassero, the youngest winner in DP World Tour history, has four victories to his name alongside Gallacher.

Also teeing it up in the capital will be Brandon Stone and Mikael Lundberg, who have three DP World Tour titles apiece.

“I was having a look at the entry list the other day and I was surprised by how good the standard was this week,” said Gallacher, who will captain the European Junior Ryder Cup Team in Rome later this year. “It’s getting tougher these days, we’re all getting a bit older and young guys are coming through so it’s a really good field.”

After 26 successive seasons and more than 600 appearances on the DP World Tour, Gallacher lost his full playing privileges last season after failing to finish inside the top 117 of the Race to Dubai Rankings. During that impressive stint, the Scotsman enjoyed plenty of success in the UAE, becoming the first, and only, man to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back-to-back in 2013-2014, while also featuring regularly at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a Rolex Series event.

Since the inaugural tournament in 2006, Gallacher has played the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on 16 occasions with 15 of those starts coming at this week’s host venue.  “It’s a totally different atmosphere here this week compared to what I’m used to on the DP World Tour,” said Gallacher, who finished in a share of eighth at the 2015 edition. “I’m quite pleased the event is here as I did a bit of TV work for the first time at the start of the year at the Hero Cup. I walked the course and was able to see how different it was without stands — it’s totally different on the eye.

“It’s going to be a great event on a fantastic golf course, one I’ve really enjoyed playing over the years. It’s one of those places where the wind gets up and can be a little tricky, but I think that suits the way I play the game which is nice.”

The Abu Dhabi Challenge will precede the UAE Challenge (May 4-7) which is being held at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. The two events are part of the European Tour group’s long-term partnership with the EGF, which aims to develop golf in the UAE for at least the next decade.

The post Stephen Gallacher impressed with strength of field at Abu Dhabi Challenge  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In the 35-year-long history of the Dubai Desert Classic, one record has stood the test of time — Stephen Gallacher’s stunning back-to-back triumphs in 2013 and 2014.

Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have won the title multiple times, but Scotsman Gallacher is the only man to have successfully defended his crown.

Now Gallacher is once again back in Dubai as he looks to make a little more history and join Els with a hat-trick of titles in the DP World Tour Rolex Series event (and beat a certain world No. 1 McIlroy to the punch).

Ever the realist, however, at 48 Gallacher knows he is nearing the end of his playing days at the top of the game and is now ready to help pay it forward as Team Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup captain ahead of the clash with the United States in Rome this September.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Junior Dubai Desert Classic, where he kept a close eye on some potential stars of the future, Gallacher looked back on some sensational moments on the famous Majlis Course.

In the last three years Stephen Gallacher's win-tie-loss record at the Dubai Desert Classic is 398-1-1. pic.twitter.com/rund5Tw5fW

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 26, 2015

“I’ve got some great memories and I’ve had some of the best times on a golf course of my life out here,” Gallacher said. “I’ve managed two holes-in-one, won it twice and shot a 10-under 62,” he said. “Magical things just seem to happen for me here in the UAE. When I come back here to a place that I love it always brings out great memories. You feel a couple of inches taller just walking out onto the tee.”

With that extra confidence boost that he gets here at Emirates Golf Club, Gallacher is not quite ready to hang up his clubs just yet.

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought I couldn’t win,” he said. “It is getting a bit more difficult at my age but hopefully I can produce something like my best over the week,” he said. “But then again there is only so much you can do to prepare yourself well and hope it all happens. And if it doesn’t there isn’t much you can do.

“There are 130 guys playing this week and anybody can win. You look at the Rorys and Shane Lowrys and the guys that are playing really well. The talent is unbelievable. It’s a really, really strong field.

“But there are a lot of elements involved as well. Conditions change during the day and you have to adapt and innovate.”

Innovation is something golf has seen in recent times, with each generation seemingly bigger, stronger and driving longer than the last. Gallacher attributes this to the key figures who changed the face of golf forever.

“Tiger Woods without a doubt, and Rory McIlroy,” he said. “We’ve got some great figureheads and great ambassadors of the game that people look up to. You only have to look now at how young and fit the kids are.

“That is all because of the athleticism Tiger brought to the game which led to kids becoming pros at a much younger age thanks to the evolution of golfing technology.

“When I was a kid I used my father’s old cut-down clubs, while now there are clubs for every age every level as you grow up. Golf has definitely gotten more professional and has changed a lot.

“But you still need to do the 10,000 hours thing. It’s hard work. You don’t get good at it by not working hard and practising. You’ve got to want it more than the guy that’s next to you that’s working equally as hard. So it’s between the ears, then its fitness, then it’s your technique and then repetition over and over.”

As Junior Ryder Cup skipper, Gallacher has one thing top of the agenda for his team, when they finally assemble at Marcom Simone Golf Club, just days before the senior teams do battle on the same course — have fun.

“We are here at the Junior Dubai Desert Classic to try to get the participation levels up and increase awareness about the fun you can have on a golf course; to showcase the facilities and hopefully unearth a new Tiger Woods or Nelly Korda along the way.

“It is the same when I take my guys to Rome — the singles are played on exactly the same set-up as the main guys on the Thursday just before. I mean, what an opportunity that is to experience something amazing first-hand. The stands are up and the tournament conditions will create such a buzz, and just like here ahead of the Desert Classic, you just want them to get out there and have fun.”

The post Hero Dubai Desert Classic: Stephen Gallacher has double vision on the hunt for the stars of the future appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Scot, a four-time DP World Tour winner, was part of the European team that defeated the United States to retain the Ryder Cup in 2014, winning 16.5 to 11.5 at Gleneagles.

Six boys and six girls will take on the US in Rome from September 26-28 with the first two days of the Junior Ryder Cup being played at Golf Nazionale before the decisive singles matches are held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the Ryder Cup venue, on the eve of the 44th edition of the biennial contest between Europe and the United States.

Three boys and three girls will earn a place on the European Junior Ryder Cup team through a season-long ranking system, which has been organised by the European Golf Association, while the remaining six players will be selected by Gallacher.

The Scot set up the Stephen Gallacher Foundation to help and encourage junior golfers in Scotland and he will now lead the European junior team in Rome as he continues to inspire the next generation of golfers.

“I am absolutely delighted to be named Junior European Ryder Cup Captain for 2023,” said Gallacher. “It’s a privilege to be able to lead a team of the best juniors in Europe against America in Rome.

“Playing the final day at Marco Simone will be a fantastic experience for our players who get the opportunity to compete in front of Ryder Cup crowds on the Ryder Cup course for the first time.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to some events during the year and working with the most exciting future talent in Europe.”

Players will earn points for the Rankings based on their finishing position in selected elite amateur events in 2023 and these points will be allocated using the World Amateur Golf Ranking system. The qualification process will end following The R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur Championships on August 20, 2023.

Boys and girls who are citizens of a European country as defined by the International Golf Federation’s Nationality Policy, under 18 years of age on January 1, 2023, and who are not enrolled to play college golf in USA during 2023 are eligible to participate in the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy and Nicolas Colsaerts both triumphed in the event before also winning The Ryder Cup, while Suzann Pettersen and Carlota Ciganda both succeeded as amateurs before lifting the Solheim Cup.

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The post Stephen Gallacher to captain Europe at 2023 Junior Ryder Cup appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Veteran Gallacher soon joined him on 12-under — the four-time DP World Tour winner carding a second straight 65 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Fellow Scot David Drysdale is alongside South African Hennie du Plessis one stroke back, while Rahm has aspirations of matching his hero Seve Ballesteros with a third Open de Espana title and he sits at 10-under alongside Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Dutchman Darius van Driel, Australia’s Min Woo Lee and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.

“I hit some alright shots,” said Waring. “I actually got the putter quite hot which is not like me at all really, so it was nice to hole a few long ones coming in and keep that momentum I had going during the round, so happy with that finish definitely.”

Gallacher added: “Halfway, you’ve done not a bad job and now you need to do the same again. You’ve got some great players playing. The weather has been perfect, and the course is in unbelievable condition, so you can shoot a low score. We’ll just see what happens. If I can play the same over the weekend, who knows.”

Rahm is ready to go again.

“I played what I could say 11 uncomfortable holes and then I played really good golf on the last seven,” he said. “From 12 on I played wonderful, it was very very enjoyable. It seems to be the part of the golf course that I score on more often so I hope to get a little bit better on the front nine tomorrow.”

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By Kent Gray
Unperturbed by a lengthy rain delay, an almost complete lack of TV time and the superstars ominously circling en-mass, Kiwi Ryan Fox quietly went about doing what Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau are supposed to be doing at this Saudi International by muscling his way to the summit of the $3.5 million European Tour event on Friday.

The 34-year-old Aucklander dodged Thursday afternoon’s challenging winds and got lucky again when he returned following Friday’s thunderstorm delay to cash in on the benign early evening conditions at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. A pair of 65s sees the powerful New Zealander enjoy the clubhouse lead on 10-under, a score shared by Scot Stephen Gallacher who will return early Saturday to complete the final six holes of his second round.

Johnson is in a group of four players tied for third at eight-under and, with four holes of his second circuit still to complete, the world No.1 is the most pedigreed hound eyeing Fox.

The winner of the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth title in 2019 will also be keenly aware of Tommy Fleetwood (finished) and Justin Rose (thru 15) at seven-under, Tyrrell Hatton (thru 13), Tony Finau (thru 16) and Victor Hovland (finished) at minus six and even DeChambeau (thru 14) at four-under.

?? -10 Fox
??????? -10 Gallacher
??????? -8 Sullivan
?? -8 Wiesberger
?? -8 Kinhult
?? -8 D. Johnson

After a delayed second day at the #SaudiIntlGolf.

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 5, 2021

But Fox, the level-headed son of former All Blacks flyhalf (first five-eight in Kiwi parlance) Grant, isn’t fazed by the big names in hot pursuit.

“This is what you play golf for, to be in contention,” said Fox.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position so I’ll just go out and enjoy it on the weekend and see if I can keep playing how I’m playing. I know if I do, I’ve got a good chance on Sunday.”

Fox also knows he’s been fortunate to be on the opposite side of the draw to the weather that has swept through King Abdullah Economic City over the past two days, especially Friday’s rain.  Mind you, as an Aucklander, it’s not as if Fox isn’t used to a bit of the wet stuff as rare and weird as it is in the desert.

It only rains on average 6 times a year in Saudi Arabia.

We show up and… #SaudiIntlGolf pic.twitter.com/0mrxOIovFK

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 5, 2021

“You don’t often get two days of no wind around here, and it was nice to take advantage of that. And, you know, you get the bad side of the draw enough times, it’s nice to get the good side every now and again

“It’s been a really solid couple of days of ball-striking, and saw a few putts go in both days, which was nice. To be sitting near the top of this leaderboard is always a good thing. It’s a pretty strong field this week.”

It sure is. So how to you approach the weekend, Ryan?

“I mean, I can just control what I can control. If I go out and play well, try to see the target and make them chase me, I don’t know how many of the top 50 in the world are here this week, but it’s a lot. And there’s a reason they’re there. They’re world-class players.

“I certainly hope to be there one day. And if I can play well this week, then it’s a step forward in that direction. If not, it’s just good experience and a nice finish to my desert swing because I don’t really know when I’m going to come back out here again.”

Fox isn’t kidding. As much as he hopes to be in the final group/s Sunday, he’s also mindful of making a Dubai connection to Auckland so he doesn’t miss out on his booked spot in managed isolation back in his mostly COVID-free homeland. That long haul home, the resulting 14-days in a poky quarantine hotel afterwards and career uncertainty on-going will be a lot more palatable if Fox can kick on to a second European Tour title on Sunday.

How was your last approach shot today DJ?

DJ… ?‍#SaudiIntlGolf pic.twitter.com/oWOZcHjv6R

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 5, 2021

The post Saudi pacesetter Ryan Fox on ominous chasing pack: ‘This is what you play golf for’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
David Horsey briefly had us on 59 watch, should really have shot 60 but was more than happy to sign for a course record-equalling 61 and the opening-round lead at the 3rd Saudi International.

The Englishman’s brilliant nine-under circuit of Royal Greens Golf & Country Club shocked no one more than the 35-year-old Englishman himself after he missed the cut in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai leading into the third leg of the Desert Swing.

“It’s a shock actually,” said Horsey who will take a one-stroke buffer over double Dubai champion Stephen Gallacher into Friday’s second round in King Abdullah Economic City.

No 59, but you’d take a 61

What a round @DaveHorsey!#SaudiIntlGolf | @Workday pic.twitter.com/yTXZI08ZNa

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2021

“I’ve been playing rubbish the last couple weeks. Didn’t feel like I controlled my ball the first two events. Yeah, sort of had a conversation with a pal back home last night, talking a few things through and [he] suggested something that I work on away from the tournament.

“Knowing me, I thought, well, can’t get any worse, so I may as well try it and here we are.”

Can you give us a hint?

“Really just how my body is moving, quite sort of technical really. It’s nice to have a feel you can sort of wake up and pick up straight away. Yeah, I didn’t really feel like I missed many shots. I holed a couple of nice, lengthy putts as well and it all adds up to 61.”

Sounds like a fascinating chat. Who is this friend? Your coach?

“Jacob Calum. Weirdly enough, he’s only 22, and he’s someone that I’ve helped out sort of as an amateur at my golf club. He’s turned pro now.” said Horsey who has four European Tour titles to his name, the last of them at the 2015 Made in Demark.

“So yeah, I tried to sort of help him as much as I can and he’s now returning the favour. He’s really knowledgeable. I’ve not got a coach now for about, well, pretty much a year, doing a lot of stuff on my own and yeah, lockdown last year, just chatting about stuff really. He sort of makes a few good points and knows the golf swing really well and it’s nice to bounce a few ideas off someone who plays as well.

“Coaches sometimes find it difficult to relate to what we feel out there and maybe there’s quite a lot of them have played but the guys who haven’t, it’s quite tough to sort of get that point across. Yeah, because he [Calum] can relate to playing at the same time, yeah, it’s constructive conversations.”

It’s a good thing because there was no chance of easing into the $3.5 million European Tour event with clumps of red numbers dotted all over the leaderboard. Horsey provided the highlight with five successive birdies from the turn and seven in total in a homeward nine negotiated in just 28 strokes.

Horsey came home in just 28 shots today.

His iron shots into 16 and 17 were sublime ?#SaudiIntlGolf pic.twitter.com/1fGHZtBj4c

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2021

He had to hole a wedge shot on the 18th for 59 but was slightly fortunate his pulled approach didn’t end up wet and eventually signed for a par and a 61 which matched Johnson’s second round en-route to victory in the inaugural Saudi International in 2019.

“I had a little conversation with myself going down 16. I wanted to make birdie there. Sort of added it up and realised [I] can’t really reach 18 in two. So yeah, I think realistically, two good birdie chances, managed to birdie 17 and made a bit of a hash at the last. Got a par there.”

A total of 71 players dipped under par including Jordan’s Shergo Al Kurdi, the 17-year-old MENA Tour amateur order of merit leader who shares 49th place with freshly minted OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic champion Paul Casey on one under.

Bernd Wiesberger will start the second round third on six-under, a shot ahead of a six players including the best of this week’s strong PGA Tour contingent, Bryson DeChambeau. World No.1 Dustin Johnson is handily placed at three-under alongside, among others, the English trio of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Danny Willett.

??????? -9 Horsey
??????? -8 Gallacher
?? -6 Wiesberger
?? -5 DeChambeau
?? -5 Fox
??????? -5 Hill
?? -5 Pieters
?? -5 Haotong
?? -5 Kinhult

After 18 holes at the #SaudiIntlGolf.

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2021

Reigning U.S. Open champion DeChambeau used his significant length and putting to good use at the 7010-yard layout surrounded by the pristine coastline of the Red Sed.

“Definitely very pleased,” DeChambeau said afterwards.

“I was driving it a bit all over the place for the most part out there. Hit some good drives to 6 and 7. But was definitely struggling with the driver and a little bit of the irons, and I have to clean that up.

“I know I’m putting well. I know that I can hit it far out here. I’m disappointed it’s not as far as I would like it but once I got out there and was hitting some wayward shots I tried to try to rein it in and control it better.”

The post England’s David Horsey equals Royal Greens course record en-route to shock Saudi lead appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Stenson will tee it up for the 20th successive time at Emirates Golf Club in what will be the 32nd edition of the Desert Classic from Jan. 28-31.

“It’s amazing to think that the UAE is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and that I lived in Dubai for almost 10 of those years,” said Stenson. “It’s always great to be back in Dubai. Emma and I got married here in 2006, and it still feels very much like home.

“I have had a lot of success in the region – I’ve won the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, the DP World Tour Championship and also in Qatar, so I feel comfortable out here.”

RELATED: Ten Major champs poised for OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic

The 44-year-old has a stellar record in the Desert Classic, winning the 2007 edition with a birdie on the 18th to edge out Ernie Els by one stroke with Tiger Woods third, in addition to seven other top-ten finishes.

“I think I have probably played more rounds on the Majlis than anywhere else on Tour, so in terms of tournament preparation, I will base it mostly on getting used to the conditions that the course is in, because I know the layout better than most,” said Stenson.

“The Majlis is one of those courses that I never get bored of and always enjoy playing. Hopefully my knowledge of it will turn into an advantage this year.”

Joining Stenson is a raft of past winners also returning to the event, including Miguel Angel Jimenez, Haotong Li, Stephen Gallacher, Thomas Bjørn, Alvaro Quiros, recent major champions and former winners Sergio Garcia and Danny Willett, as well as three-time winner Ernie Els and defending champion Lucas Herbert.

Jimenez made his first outing at Emirates Golf Club in 1990 and will be teeing it up at the event for the 27th time, with his victory coming in 2010 after a play-off win over Lee Westwood.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

The Spaniard made four Ryder Cup appearances in his career and was twice a Vice Captain in 2012 and 2014. He holds many European Tour records, including the highest number of starts (710) and he has made 10 holes-in-one on Tour, breaking the record previously held by Colin Montgomerie.

“I love coming back to Dubai every year and this tournament has a special place in my heart,” said Jimenez. “It has always been a great place to play golf and as the first event the European Tour held in the region, the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic is one of the most important to the players.”

Scotland’s Gallacher remains the only player in tournament history to have won the title in back-to-back years have triumphed in 2013-14.

Stephen Gallacher

“I love coming back to this event because the Majlis is a course I know I can play well on,” said Gallacher. “Any time you come to a venue where you have won before gives you confidence – and that, in addition to the slight breeze you often get and the humidity, makes me feel comfortable.

“Winning the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic twice in a row is certainly one of the highlights of my career so far and I’d love to add a third.”

RELATED: Wilco Nienaber is bringing his ‘nuke’ powered driver to the Desert Classic

China’s Li, who became the first Asian player to win the title in 2018 with a one-stroke win over Rory McIlroy, is also keen to immerse himself in the familiar sights and sounds of Emirates Golf Club once again.

“This is a special event on the European Tour and one I always look forward to playing,” said Li. “I have great memories of winning three years ago and it would be nice to make more memories this year.”

Haotong Li

An elite field has been assembled at Emirates Golf Club including Major champions Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington, and countless Ryder Cup stars including Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Matthew Fitzpatrick, all set to vie for the Dallah trophy.

In what is the 32nd staging of the tournament, attendance will be for invited guests only, but the action will be beamed to a worldwide audience on mainstream broadcast sports networks, and highlights and exclusive content will be shared on the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic social media channels.

RELATED: Paul Casey set for Majlis return as second wave of Desert Classic player confirmations unveiled

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By Alex Myers
Next week’s Hero Indian Open in New Delhi has been called off after a joint decision by the European Tour, the Asian Tour, the Indian Golf Union, and the tournament’s title sponsor, Hero MotoCorp. No makeup dates have been announced.

“In these difficult global circumstances, we fully understand and appreciate the recent restrictions introduced in respect of travel into India,” European Tour CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement. “As these new measures now prevent many members of both Tours being able to play in the tournament, everyone involved in the staging of the Hero Indian Open felt it was the correct decision to postpone the tournament.”

The Magical Kenya Open, which was to be played this week, was postponed last Friday. Two other European Tour events scheduled for April, the Maybank Championship and the Volvo China Open, were previously pushed back.

The Hero Indian Open became a European Tour co-sanctioned event beginning in 2015. Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher is the tournament’s defending champion.

So far, the LPGA Tour has cancelled three events, the last of which was to be played this week in China. The PGA Tour schedule has yet to be affected.

The post Hero Indian Open becomes fourth European Tour event postponed due to ongoing Coronavirus threat appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Huggan
At the end of an extraordinary and ever-fluctuating day’s play on what is surely one of the game’s more extraordinary courses—the DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi—Stephen Gallacher somehow emerged as winner of the European Tour’s Hero Indian Open. The 44-year-old Scot made seven birdies in a closing 71, one under par over the Gary Player-design that some argue resembles something from Jurassic Park, to reach nine-under 279 for the week, one shot better than runner-up, Masahiro Kawamura. Spain’s Jorge Campillo was third, another stroke back.

Those rather bland numbers conceal much heartache, however. And carnage, from which even Gallacher was not immune. Courtesy of two lost balls, the eventual champion made a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 456-yard seventh. Still ahead by two shots with five holes to play, overnight leader Julian Suri needed six shots to get down from just off the green at the 461-yard 14th hole, the American running up Sunday’s second quad.

Those were not the highest scores of the day though. India’s Rahil Gangjee accumulated a sextuple-bogey 11 on the 624-yard closing hole, while Jens Dantorp of Sweden finished his round of 83 with three triple bogeys—there were nine in total—on the last five holes. In all, the 70-strong field amassed nine triple-bogeys and 46 doubles in increasingly blustery conditions that only accentuated the severe contours of the endlessly eccentric and speedy putting surfaces.

Eight men, including former European No. 1 Robert Karlsson, shot in the 80s; only seven managed to break 70, Campillo’s 67 the best of those.

None of which was bothering Gallacher, whose brilliant ball-striking and three birdies over the closing four holes was in stark contrast to the destruction surrounding him. Even then though, the former Ryder Cup player had to wait to see if his score would be good enough to give him a fourth tour victory and his first since the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic. Standing on the final tee, Kawamura needed to make a birdie to tie, an eventuality made all but impossible by a drive that finished unplayable. In the end, the 25-year-old from Japan, a graduate of last year’s qualifying school, holed from 20-feet for a par-5 to clinch second spot.

“It was a bit disappointing, to begin with,” admitted Gallacher, who had his 18-year-old son, Jack, as his caddie. “I got off to a ropey start. Five off the tee on seven wasn’t good. I was pretty calm even after that hole though. There’s nothing really much you can do other than keep hitting shots and focus on the process. To see that I was only five back gave me a wee bit of encouragement. I thought Just hang in there. When I birdied 15, I saw that Julian Suri had come back and then when I got to the 16th green I was tied for the lead. I just tried to finish as strong as I could and I did that.”

Gallacher poses with his 17-year-old son, Jack, who worked as his caddie en route to victory in India. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

That he could do it with his son by his side made ending the victory draught all the more special.

“He’s a great caddie, quite chilled,” Gallacher said. “When you’re 44 you’re in the sort of twilight so it’s a big win for me. It was good to finish it out the way I did.”

The post Stephen Gallacher becomes the European Tour’s latest feel-good winner with his victory at the Hero Indian Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.