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Two-time Ryder Cup winner Graeme McDowell believes a Ryder Cup wildcard pick for Stephen Gallacher would be ‘thoroughly deserved’.

Speaking in his BBC Blog, the man who beat Gallacher in the race for one of the European side’s nine automatic spots, says Gallacher “would bring a lot to a Ryder Cup team” – providing he’s picked by European captain Paul McGinley.

In last week’s Italian Open Gallacher needed a win or a second place finish to oust Graeme McDowell in the final qualifying spot. He came up short, however, finishing on 17-under-par, one place behind David Howell who was second.

According to G-Mac, if Gallacher had succeeded, the Scot would have deserved his place in the line-up.

“You certainly would not have begrudged him a place in the team.” – Graeme McDowell

“I wished Stevie well last week,” wrote the former US Open champ in his BBC Blog. “You certainly would not have begrudged him a place in the team if he’d got the top-two finish he needed to go past me in the standings. He certainly made a brilliant effort to grab the last automatic qualifying place and only came up a fraction short.

“Given the way he’s played throughout this year, and because of the type of player that he is, he would have thoroughly deserved it, especially with him being a Scot and the Ryder Cup being at Gleneagles.”

Graeme McDowell outlines Gallacher’s qualities

Italian Open - Day 3

McDowell is a three-time Ryder Cup player and a winner of two. He knows what kind of players are needed to lift the Ryder Cup trophy, and the world No.16 says Gallacher would be a welcome addition to the European squad.

“He would bring a lot to the dynamic of the side.” – Graeme McDowell

“To me Stephen is somebody who would bring a lot to a Ryder Cup team,” said McDowell. “He’s a big-hitter, he’s upbeat and a positive personality. As far as rookies go, he wouldn’t be a problem.

“If I was captain Paul McGinley, I’d be thinking long and hard about putting him on the team. I think he would bring a lot to the dynamic of the side.”

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