Stephen Gallacher climbs Ryder Cup list

Stephen Gallacher has jumped ahead of Sergio Garcia, Gonazalo Fernandez Castano and Francesco Molinari in the European Ryder Cup qualification list following his second place finish at the Nordea Masters.

The Scotsman was in 12^th spot heading into the tournament, but after a great display in Sweden Stephen Gallacher has risen to ninth.

Gallacher birdied the last for a final round 68, leaving him tied for the lead with Victor Dubuisson and EurAsian Cup captian Thongchai Jaidee on 16-under. The trio then went back down the 18^th for a play-off, however, it was Jaidee that emerged as the winner after he made birdie on the par-five, bettering Gallacher and Dubuisson’s pars.

“My ball got up to four foot from the hole and then spun back. If the wind drops a bit instead of gusting I’m stone dead.”

“I had a good week and I was delighted to get into the play-off,” said Stephen Gallacher.

“I holed a lovely putt on the last after lipping out on both 16 and 17. Jaidee just hit a lovely shot there, or three lovely shots on the last, which was playing really tough.

“I was hoping to peak for a couple of weeks. I knew I was playing well, so to finish fifth and then second is not bad. I’m delighted with that.

“Play-offs are fine margins. My ball got up to four foot from the hole and then spun back. If the wind drops a bit instead of gusting  I’m stone dead. Play-off golf, you need that bit of luck, but the putt to get into the play-off was great.”

Stephen Gallacher: can he qualify?

Ryder Cup qualification for Stephen Gallacher still remains difficult as only the top-four players in the European list gain automatic entry to the team. Standing between him and a place at Gleneagles are: Joost Luiten in eighth place, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Rory McIlroy in seventh and sixth spot, and Ian Poulter, placed just outside the qualifying positions.

If things remain as tight as they are Stephen Gallacher may need to rely on a captain’s pick to make the team, he follow in the footsteps of his uncle Bernhard Gallacher who played in the event eight times.