Gallacher delighted with desert draw

Defending champion Stephen Gallacher is looking forward to being paired with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Scot ran out a three shot winner at Emirates Golf Club 12 months ago, and will feature alongside World Number Ones past and present in a star grouping this time around as a result.

While some may be overawed by playing alongside two Major Champions, Gallacher insists he will relish being joined by two of the sport’s biggest names.

“That's the way you want to be playing, you want to be playing sort the top guys,” he said. “They're there for a reason, so if there's anything that you can pick up on or just watch how they play their game, and see if your game is close to theirs, that can give you a bit of a boost as well.

“I'm really looking forward to it - I think it's going to be nice. It's going to be a good time, and hopefully it brings the best out of me.”

Gallacher has already had a taste of high-profile company this week, having played with Woods and Fred Couples in the Champions Challenge to mark 25 years of the Desert Classic.

And it marked the first occasion the 39 year old has played with the World Number One since they competed on opposing sides at the 1995 Walker Cup.

“It came up because I think Fred is playing in the Senior Open at Porthcawl this year, and that's where me and Tiger played against each other in '95,” he added.

“We played in the foursomes against each other - I never played him in the singles.

“He was obviously quite a big - he was just about to turn pro at that stage and he was a double US Amateur Champion, which was obviously unheard of at that time, so he was quite a big prospect.

“We talked about some of the guys on his team and guys that were on my team that are still playing. The talk two weeks ago was playing with Tiger and Fred, so it's always in the back of your mind even though you're playing other tournaments, because I was looking forward to it.”

Asked about his memories from last year, Gallacher continued: “It was the first time I'd ever played leading going into the last round. I think I had a two or three shot lead, and I bogeyed the first two, so it was a bit of a shaky start, three putting the first.

“It was one of the ones where that's the benefit of leading going into the last round. You've still got 16 holes or 15 holes thereafter to redeem yourself, but if you're coming from behind and you start like that, it's over.

“When I holed the shot at 16, that was the point I thought it was mine to lose from then on in.”

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