Ryder Cup: Graeme McDowell welcomes 'dynamic' wildcard Stephen Gallacher to team
Last Updated: 23/09/14 12:47pm
Graeme McDowell has backed Ryder Cup rookie and wild card Stephen Gallacher to step up to the mark for Europe at Gleneagles this weekend.
Gallacher makes his Ryder Cup debut on Friday at the age of 39 having only narrowly missed out on claiming the final automatic place ahead of McDowell.
The Scot played a superb final round at the recent Italian Open but needed a top-two finish and could only land third place.
Europe captain Paul McGinley nevertheless selected Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, as one of his wildcard selections and McDowell is confident he will take the Ryder Cup in his stride.
Dynamic
McDowell said: "He's showed a lot of class and heart for the way he played to get onto this team.
"I was very acutely aware of what was going on that weekend in Italy when he came within a whisker of taking my automatic spot and probably deserved to take my automatic spot - if it wasn't for a 63 from David Howell to pip him on the line.
"Yes, he's a wildcard and yes he's a rookie, but we all believe that he deserves to be on this team. Hopefully he knows that he deserves to be on this team as well.
"I think he'll have a great week and I think he'll bring a great dynamic to this team."
McDowell believes Gallacher will thrive at Gleneagles, the Scot's 'home' course as he lives just 35 miles away.
He added: "He's a very, very good player - hits it long, very strong, very assured of himself. I think he'll conduct himsef very well this weekend, obviously, with his record around this golf course he's got the right attitude and the right personality that I think will really fit in well with this team.
"He'll stand on the first tee on Friday morning or afternoon, whatever it may be, and he'll be ready to go."
