THIS week’s British Masters could be an uphill struggle in more ways than one for Stephen Gallacher.
At least he’s on his feet again. After the first round of last week’s Portugal Masters, the former Ryder Cup player found himself on a drip to deal with dehydration brought on by chronic sinusitis.
“Last week floored me,” said Gallacher. “I’m about 80 per cent at the moment. That’s why I just played the Pro-Am, especially on what it is a physically demanding course here.
“It is going to be a bit of a battle and I started to feel a bit tired towards the end of the Pro-Am. There are only three or four hills but they are steep ones.”
At 86th on the money list, Gallacher has something of a brae to climb if he is to make the end-of-season race to Dubai finale. “One good week and you are into everything at the end of the season,” added the Scot as he targets to the top-60.
Scott Jamieson, meanwhile, has arrived at Close House happy to be avoiding, well, a close shave.
Over the last couple of seasons, the 33-year-old has endured a nail-nibbling battle to retain his playing rights but is looking upwards instead of peering over his shoulder this week.
A share of 20th place in the Portugal Masters gave his campaign a timely lift as he ended a run of five successive missed cuts.
Having cemented his place in the upper reaches of the money list with a profitable push at the start of the season, Jamieson endured something of a mid-season slump. Now he’s looking to end the year with a telling surge.
“At the end of the season, you’re always more switched on, whether you’re fighting to keep your card or trying to get into the Final Series.”
Jamieson and Gallacher are two of seven Scots in action here. Paul Lawrie was a late withdrawal with a long-standing foot injury.
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