Automatic Ryder Cup slot slips Gallacher’s grasp by one shot
SCOTLAND’S Stephen Gallacher faces an anxious wait to discover whether Paul McGinley will select him as one of three captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup after falling agonisingly short of automatic qualification at the Italian Open yesterday.
Gallacher required a top-two finish in Turin to overhaul Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and secure the final automatic slot for Gleneagles but finished third – just one shot behind David Howell – despite an impressive seven-under-par final round.
The 39-year-old’s name will now be put in the mix alongside Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood who also failed to qualify on points alone, with McGinley set to announce his final line-up tomorrow.
EURO STARS
Nine players have booked their place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team:
Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell