Stephen Gallacher sets his sights high for his 2015 season

Stephen Gallacher has set himself "massive goals" for next year as he looks to build on a memorable 2014 campaign.

The world No 35 was one of the most consistent players on the European Tour last season, becoming the first player to successfully defend the Dubai Desert Classic title and recording seven other top-10 finishes.

His form was rewarded with a dream Ryder Cup debut on home soil at Gleneagles, while he also enjoyed an encouraging Masters debut and a career-best performance at the Open Championship.

Gallacher heads into 2015 full of confidence as he plans to have a “real good go” at the majors and World Golf Championship events, and his overriding long-term aim is to retain his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team the following year.

The popular 40-year-old Scot is also looking forward to playing more events on the PGA Tour next season as he looks to continue climbing the world rankings.

"I set myself massive goals, the biggest being trying to get into the next Ryder Cup," Gallacher told Sky Sports. "This year, I would love to do well at the Masters and the Open at St Andrews in particular. I really want to give all the majors and WGC events a really good go next year.

"Trying to get further up the world rankings is an ongoing process, and if you lose momentum you go backwards. The good thing for me is I’m getting more familiar with playing in America. The first time you play over there you can feel like a fish out of water – it’s almost like your first day at school, you don’t know what to expect.

"But each time I go back now I feel more at home, I understand the culture more and I feel more comfortable – I feel more like I belong. I’m due to play 12 times on the PGA Tour next year, and if I play well enough to get my card, that might give me a headache!

FedExCup target

"I think any aspiring golfer would want to play the FedExCup Play-offs at some point. You want to give it a go for one of the biggest prizes in golf. When you go up against best players, that’s the best way to improve. But I would not do it if it was detrimental to my chances of getting in the Ryder Cup. I’m a European Tour player, and I’m always going to be a European Tour player."

I really want to give all the majors and WGC events a really good go next year.

Gallacher will be fine-tuning his game during the off-season before heading to Abu Dhabi in January for the first of three events on the Desert Swing - which culminates in his favourite Dubai Desert Classic - but he is wary of making too many changes to his swing.

"The thing is to consolidate but not change too much," he added. "I'm very close - just a shot here and there - to being right up there among the best. I’ll just keep working hard, tighten up my short game and work on my fitness.

"If I can just get that little extra percentage out of any part of my game, that’s what can make a difference. I need to get rested, get my schedule right for 2015 and try and target certain weeks next year and then be as fit as I can for another Ryder Cup campaign."

Gallacher has dominated the Dubai Desert Classic in recent years, finishing second, first and first, so what is it about The Emirates course that obviously fits his game?

He said: "I think it just really suits my eye. There are always certain places that suit certain players. I’ve been familiar with golf in Dubai for a while and, when you have that familiarity, it’s almost like playing your home track.

"You just feel comfortable, and obviously it helps when you play well as it gives you good memories for when you go back. You have a positive mindset as soon as you turn up and you know you’re going to play well. And if you’re in contention down the stretch, you can draw on past exploits to bring you home."

Media distractions

Gallacher also admitted he had to work hard to avoid distraction last season as media coverage of his bid to make Europe’s Ryder Cup team intensified over the summer.

"I was getting asked every single day of the week," he added. "All I was trying to do was not put any extra pressure on myself and get on with my own game. I was playing in the biggest tournaments with the most ranking points and trying to get up the board.

"Ultimately, I knew I was doing okay in the qualification process, but I was trying not to dwell on it. I was so close all year, but I had to block out the media attention and not focus too much on it, although it was obviously a big story for a Scot trying to get into the Ryder Cup team in Scotland.

"I fully understood that, but at the same time I didn’t want to put myself under any unnecessary pressure."

Playing in the Ryder Cup makes you more determined to be in that arena, and gives you more motivation to play in the next one

Gallacher needed a top-two finish at the Italian Open in late August to claim the final automatic berth in Paul McGinley’s team, but he narrowly missed out as Hennie Otto took the title and David Howell closed with a 63 to snatch second.

"I knew exactly what I needed to do, so I had a positive goal," he said. "I had to just go for it, regardless of how many shots I was behind or if I was in front. In a way, it was pretty easy knowing what I needed to do, but at the same time, you’ve still got 154 other players to beat.

"To do that when I really needed to was tough, but I gave as good an account of myself as I could and I knew I could hold my head up high afterwards."

The three-time European Tour winner appeared set to miss the cut midway through his second round in Turin, but he responded with six birdies in a stunning back-nine 30 which he regards as one of the best nine holes of golf in his career.

Pressure

"I would say so, yes. Under the pressure and in those circumstances definitely. Knowing I needed to do that and pulling it off was a huge confidence boost," added Gallacher, who birdied six of his first eight holes in the final round but managed just one more after the turn as he finished a shot behind Howell.

"I think I had maybe run out of steam a little. The back nine on a Sunday is always the toughest anyway, but I hit a lot of good shots, made a good putt at the 17th and a good up-and-down for par at the last. It was one of those things, and it was tough to see guys in front of me keep making birdies!"

But Gallacher had done enough to earn one of McGinley’s three captain’s picks for Gleneagles, where he suffered defeat alongside Ian Poulter in the opening session before responding positively as he pushed Phil Mickelson all the way in a high-quality singles encounter.

He said: "The hard thing for me was that I played as well as I could against Phil, but I got beat and that’s just match play. But I think Phil had an ulterior motive - if he didn’t beat me, he would have been able to have a go at Tom Watson afterwards!

"Phil is one of the best players of my generation - five majors and 10 Ryder Cups - so it was always going to be a tough match. But I felt I played my best and that’s all you can do. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way, so you just try harder and put it right next time.

Motivation

"Overall it was a great experience. I think the biggest thing was just being around the best players in the world – just rubbing shoulders with them even if you’re not necessarily playing with them. It just makes you more determined to be in that arena, and gives you more motivation to play in the next one."

Gallacher also tipped Darren Clarke to succeed McGinley, adding: "I think it’s going to be between Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke, and I think Darren might just edge it. But either of them would be a great ambassador for our team and I know they would drive us forward."

Meanwhile, Gallacher is also enjoying his involvement in his foundation with the aim of encouraging young children in The Lothians and Borders area of Scotland to take up golf as early as possible.

"I'm very hands-on with my foundation," he said. "I’m trying to encourage children to play golf from a young age. I enjoy coaching them, and I make them aware of the pitfalls and rules and such from an early age so they’re ready to hit the ground running when they join a club.

"I try and make it fun for them - I go into schools and try and educate them on what golf means, the etiquette and the rules. Basically, the ultimate goal is to get a lot of kids starting golf at a younger age and help keep the cycle of golf going."