Stephen Gallacher knows that the next four days are the biggest of his golfing career.
The 39 year old Scot stands on the brink of qualifying for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in less than a month's time but knows nothing less than a top two finish will do at this weeks Italian Open if he is to make Paul McGinley's European team automatically.
Let's assume Gallacher finishes 3rd or lower in Italy come Sunday and is left relying on a pick from the Irishman. For my mind, Gallacher's phone should be ringing instantly with McGinley telling him that he is one of his three wildcard selections.
The argument that Ryder Cup debutants should have to qualify automatically is a strong one and I have nothing but admiration for Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Welshman Jamie Donaldson who have managed to do just that. However, Gallacher is in a unique position as a potential Ryder Cup rookie.
If casual golf fans were told Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood all required wildcards to play in the Ryder Cup, then the likelihood is that most of them would say McGinley should be ringing all three of them. That would be ridiculously unfair on Gallacher.
Gallacher has been in consistent form for most of the season, producing a stunning performance in Dubai at the start of the year to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title. Last weeks top ten in the Czech Republic, was his seventh top ten of 2014.
Some question Gallacher's mentality on the big stage and whilst he hasn't been at the business end of majors like the three aforementioned English golfers as of yet, Gallacher showed no nerves in Dubai whilst playing with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and this season he has finished in the top five of two of the European Tour's flagship events; the Scottish Open and the BMW PGA championship at Wentworth.
He has also enjoyed a top six finish in a WGC event at Doral in March as well as an impressive top 15 finish at Hoylake in The Open.
Contrast that with Poulter, Donald and Westwood. For the record, my other two picks would be Poulter and Donald. Poulter has been in dreadful form since a top 20 finish at the US Open, but he is 'Mr Ryder Cup' and will be an inspirational figure in the dressing room as always.
Luke Donald's record in matchplay is the envy of many other golfers and he has played in four Ryder Cups and each time he has come out on the winning side. He loves playing alongside Sergio Garcia on the first two days as well and that partnership will be a match for any American duo. But he has only had one top ten on the European Tour this season and three in America, but the last of those came in May. Again Gallacher has shown greater form at the right time than someone of the calibre of Donald.
So that means Westwood misses out. To those who cry out Westwood's experience is unrivalled, I point you in the decision by Jose Maria Olazabal to pick Nicolas Colsaerts two years ago and thus putting an end to Padraig Harrington's run of six Ryder Cups in a row. Westwood currently lies 16th in the standings, with Gallacher in 11th. Form is key going into the Ryder Cup and right now Westwood doesn't have much.
And a team with Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and the world's best golfer Rory McIlroy would hardly be lacking experience on the course.
The other huge argument for Gallacher to get picked is his record at Gleneagles. Since 2001 he has recorded seven top tens at the venue and last year he was only pipped in a play-off for the Johnnie Walker Championship. Westwood on the other hand hasn't played it since 2008 (though it is fair to point out that Donald has never played it and Poulter hasn't in 11 years). But certain players love certain courses and it is clear that Gleneagles suits Gallacher's superb ball striking game.
I'm not writing this as a Scotsman desperate to see a Scottish golfer in Paul McGinley's team just because the competition is being played in my home country. Gallacher's presence would of course give the crowds a lift and probably gain Europe an extra half point or full point.
Over the course of 2014, Stephen Gallacher has matured superbly as a golfer and has shown that he has the mentality to handle the pressure of a Ryder Cup.
McGinley might be hoping he won't have to give Gallacher a wildcard but tough decisions like this is what it's like being a Ryder Cup captain.
On Friday 26 September we should be hearing from the starter at Gleneagles "On the tee from Scotland, Stephen Gallacher." It would be a mistake for the nephew of Ryder Cup great Bernard Gallacher to miss out.
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Wednesday 6 August 2014
Three men who are offering value at Valhalla
If you've read the newspapers or turned on the television in the last few days, then you could be forgiven for thinking that Rory McIlroy had already won the years final major, the PGA Championship and everyone else shouldn't have bothered turning up.
Well that isn't the case as McIlroy and the rest of the world's top golfers prepare to tee off at Valhalla. There can be no doubting the man from Northern Ireland is the favourite for the tournament after brilliant wins in the Open Championship and at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Inviitational event over the last three weeks.
And the bookies are making him as short as 5/1 to win his second consecutive major and fourth overall. Those sort of prices haven't been seen since Tiger Woods was in his prime so I'm here to offer you some value tips for this week.
Jim Furyk (Best Price 35/1)
Now 43, the American is one of the golfers you can simply never write off when heading into a Major and he really should have won more than his solitary major he picked up at the 2003 US Open.
But Furyk is in fine form heading into the PGA Championship. Despite only finishing in a tie for 15th last week in the Bridgestone Invitational, he shot four rounds in the 60s. And before that he really should have converted a 54 hole lead at the Canadian Open but fell into second place behind Tim Clark.
He has a fine record at the majors so far in 2014; coming 4th in last month's Open championship and also finishing in the top 15 at the US Open and the Masters. Add in a 2nd place finish at The Players Championship and you get a man that's playing some of the finest golf of his life.
Second in last years PGA Championship, Furyk does have a reputation of bottling it when it matters nowadays, but is very much worth an each way bet.
Marc Leishman (Best Price 50/1)
Remarkably during commentating on last month's Open Peter Alliss had to ask for information on the 30 year old Australian which seemed ridiculous considering Leishman had finished tied fourth in the 2013 Masters, which Alliss commentated on.
He is now a golfer that is comfortable competing with the bigger names week in week out as shown by his third place finish in the Bridgestone Invitational when he was the only golfer who stuck remotely close to McIlroy and Garcia until the very end. That followed up a top five place finish at The Open, and he's enjoyed six top tens this season already.
A top 15 finisher at last years PGA event, Leishman is someone full of confidence and might just follow his countrymen Wayne Grady, Steve Elkington, David Graham and Jim Ferrie as Australian winners of this event.
Patrick Reed: (Best Price 75/1)
The American has came under fire for his comments after winning the WGC Cadillac Championship in March where he declared himself one of the top five players in the world.
It was quite a ridiculous statement to make in most people's eyes and everyone was wondering who this young upstart was. And with that comment hanging over him, his form dipped where he missed the cut at The Masters, The Players Championship and The Open.
But there were big signs last week that Reed has finally got his game back in order as he shot a superb 65 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth at the Bridgestone Invitational.
And despite the fact he'll be making his debut in the PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley won on debut in 2011 in the tournament so it can be done. The 23 year old from Texas might be far away from being one of the top five players in the world, but he certainly knows how to win.
With Europeans leading the charge this week in the form of McIlroy, Garcia and Rose the rest of the world contingent will be keen to put them down a peg or two. I'm confident at least one of the men above will be in the hunt come the back nine on Sunday.
Well that isn't the case as McIlroy and the rest of the world's top golfers prepare to tee off at Valhalla. There can be no doubting the man from Northern Ireland is the favourite for the tournament after brilliant wins in the Open Championship and at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Inviitational event over the last three weeks.
And the bookies are making him as short as 5/1 to win his second consecutive major and fourth overall. Those sort of prices haven't been seen since Tiger Woods was in his prime so I'm here to offer you some value tips for this week.
Jim Furyk (Best Price 35/1)
Now 43, the American is one of the golfers you can simply never write off when heading into a Major and he really should have won more than his solitary major he picked up at the 2003 US Open.
But Furyk is in fine form heading into the PGA Championship. Despite only finishing in a tie for 15th last week in the Bridgestone Invitational, he shot four rounds in the 60s. And before that he really should have converted a 54 hole lead at the Canadian Open but fell into second place behind Tim Clark.
He has a fine record at the majors so far in 2014; coming 4th in last month's Open championship and also finishing in the top 15 at the US Open and the Masters. Add in a 2nd place finish at The Players Championship and you get a man that's playing some of the finest golf of his life.
Second in last years PGA Championship, Furyk does have a reputation of bottling it when it matters nowadays, but is very much worth an each way bet.
Marc Leishman (Best Price 50/1)
Remarkably during commentating on last month's Open Peter Alliss had to ask for information on the 30 year old Australian which seemed ridiculous considering Leishman had finished tied fourth in the 2013 Masters, which Alliss commentated on.
He is now a golfer that is comfortable competing with the bigger names week in week out as shown by his third place finish in the Bridgestone Invitational when he was the only golfer who stuck remotely close to McIlroy and Garcia until the very end. That followed up a top five place finish at The Open, and he's enjoyed six top tens this season already.
A top 15 finisher at last years PGA event, Leishman is someone full of confidence and might just follow his countrymen Wayne Grady, Steve Elkington, David Graham and Jim Ferrie as Australian winners of this event.
Patrick Reed: (Best Price 75/1)
The American has came under fire for his comments after winning the WGC Cadillac Championship in March where he declared himself one of the top five players in the world.
It was quite a ridiculous statement to make in most people's eyes and everyone was wondering who this young upstart was. And with that comment hanging over him, his form dipped where he missed the cut at The Masters, The Players Championship and The Open.
But there were big signs last week that Reed has finally got his game back in order as he shot a superb 65 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth at the Bridgestone Invitational.
And despite the fact he'll be making his debut in the PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley won on debut in 2011 in the tournament so it can be done. The 23 year old from Texas might be far away from being one of the top five players in the world, but he certainly knows how to win.
With Europeans leading the charge this week in the form of McIlroy, Garcia and Rose the rest of the world contingent will be keen to put them down a peg or two. I'm confident at least one of the men above will be in the hunt come the back nine on Sunday.
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