The race began 12 months ago in Wales, but the rush to qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup team reaches its conclusion this weekend at the Italian Open. And it could yet prove to be a dramatic finish.
Eight of the automatic nine places into Paul McGinley’s team at Gleneagles are already determined, but one spot remains available. It is presently occupied by Graeme McDowell, but he could be usurped by Stephen Gallacher, who is determined to ensure of his participation on home soil next month.
The 38-year-old Scot, nephew of Ryder Cup legend Bernard Gallacher, requires at worst a second place finish in Turin, in order to edge ahead of the Northern Irishman into that final qualifying spot. Otherwise, the likeable West Lothian born player will have to anxiously await to see whether he will be named one of Paul McGinley’s wildcard picks, with the European captain to complete his 12-man squad on the 2nd of September.
Normally, Gallacher would be a firm favourite to receive one of the three picks available to the Irishman. He is inside the top 12 on both qualifying lists, with his consistent form on the European Tour positioning him at an impressive ninth on the Race to Dubai money list. But this year the situation is a little different, with three of Europe’s heavyweights also needing to be the subject of the captain’s generosity.
Ian Poulter, the talisman at Medinah two years ago, is generally accepted to be a certain pick, despite poor form this year, with his match-play record being nothing short of incredible. Former world number one Luke Donald has endured a miserable summer on the course, but his record and compatibility with Sergio Garcia is to be considered. That leaves Lee Westwood, an ever-present since 1997, but, like his compatriots, the 41-year-old Englishman’s form has been uninspiring at best in recent months.
They have made an invaluable contribution during Europe’s success in the past decade or so, but should that be enough to grant all three of them a place on the team this year? This observer doesn’t believe so.
If you combine the three of them, since June, they have participated in 21 events, missing the cut on ten of those occasions, with only Poulter registering a top ten finish in that time. Not exactly inspiring.
There appears to be a popular notion that the three Englishmen would somehow raise their game at Gleneagles, as they have done so before. Perhaps they would, but that is no guarantee. Selecting three players in such insipid form would appear to be a huge gamble from McGinley, irrespective of their record and experience.
Yes, picking, in Gallacher’s case, a rookie, is equally not without potential risk, but on the face of the present circumstances, it would seem to be a less of one in a contest that is so often determined by the slimmest of margins.
Even if Gallacher doesn’t follow Jamie Donaldson’s lead by guaranteeing his spot this weekend, he should still be a wildcard pick. This is not an impassioned plea from a Scotsman hoping to see a compatriot participating in golf’s showpiece on home soil, but a calculated analysis of the qualities that Gallacher would bring to Team Europe.
Posting seven top ten finishes around the world this year, three of which have come since June, Gallacher is a player in consistently good form. He did have a disappointing fortnight in America at the start of August, but before that he contended in the Scottish Open, which preceded a tie for 15th at Royal Liverpool. Earlier in the season, the Scot emphasised his ability to perform among the game’s best by placing strongly in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral.
But more than that, he is now a proven winner. Successfully defending the Abu Dhabi Championship at the start of the year, playing alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, Gallacher illustrated his ability under pressure on the big occasion.
In addition to his impressive individual record, he has also proven to be a valuable asset in team situations. A former Walker Cup player in 1995, he has represented Scotland on three occasions in the World Cup, and in the past year has participated in the Seve Trophy, Royal Trophy and the inaugural EurAsia Cup.
But perhaps most pertinently of all, Gallacher has performed well on the often maligned PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles. Last year, in the Johnnie Walker Championship, he shrugged off an injury to just miss out on the title in a playoff to Tommy Fleetwood, despite shooting his last three rounds in the 60s.
Ahead of that event last August, Paul McGinley emphasised the importance that he places on course form: “I'm a firm believer and I've said it so many times in the past, but I'm a great believer in horses for courses and I'm a great believer on form over a golf course. “
Stephen Gallacher has that course form, and while the legendary cauldron of pressure that the Ryder Cup generates is truly understood only by those who have been there, he can take comfort from the fact that he knows the golf course and has played it well. Most others won’t be able to do that.
The Scot is more than worthy of a Ryder Cup place. He could ensure of that himself on Sunday, but if not, Europe’s Captain would certainly not be unwise to select a player of such reliable talent.