DUBAI // Winner of the past two Omega Dubai Desert Classic titles, it comes as little surprise that Stephen Gallacher has a replica of the coffee pot trophy back home in Scotland.
A large piece of kit, it tends to take up quite a bit of space, so finding it a permanent residence has proven difficult.
That is soon to change, though, as Gallacher is decorating a room at his home that will eventually house it.
He has not felt a desire to complain at the inconvenience, however, as it acts as a nice reminder of two of his finest golfing achievements.
“It sits in the corner when we come down the stairs, so I see it every morning,” he said at Emirates Golf Club yesterday.
“It’s because I cannot put it anywhere, it’s that heavy. It has to sit on the ground.”
Add another this week and Gallacher would be forgiven for placing it in the middle of his living room – a concept as left-field as suggesting someone could take centre stage at the same European Tour event three consecutive times.
Only five players have: Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els. Good company to be keeping. “Five exceptional players,” Gallacher said. “Former No 1s in there. It just shows you how hard it is.
“But I’m not going to put myself under any more pressure. If it happens, brilliant. I just want to be in contention again on Sunday.”
Last year, he entered the conversation late Saturday. Standing on the ninth tee, one-over par, Gallacher blitzed through the next 10 holes in 10-under. By the close of play, he led by two.
“When I look back at it now, my heart races,” he said. “Because I wasn’t in the tournament.
“These things don’t happen very often in golf careers.
“I wish I could play the front nine like that.”
A front-runner, he surrendered his advantage early Sunday, then rallied again on the closing stretch to finish one shot ahead of Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo.
In doing so, Gallacher became the first back-to-back winner in tournament history.
All things considered, it was an unlikely Dubai double, yet a three-peat would seem even more implausible.
Do it, though, and he joins that mightily illustrious list.
“It’s great to be associated with them, isn’t it?” he said. “I’ve earned that right, it’s there. The only thing I can do now is add to it and I’d love to. That’s why I’m here: to try and give it my best shot again.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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