Stephen Gallacher hunts a hat-trick

Stephen Gallacher is seeking to make it three in a row in Dubai

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Stephen Gallacher is seeking to make it three in a row in Dubai

 

Edited by Anand Datla

 

January 28, 2015: Stephen Gallacher says that he is not feeling any extra pressure as the Scotsman attempts to join a pantheon of greats by winning the same event three times in a row at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.  The 40 year old returns to defend his title at Emirates Golf Club for the second time after making it back to back victories in the final event of the Desert Swing last year with a one shot win over Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo.

 

Only five players in European Tour history have lifted the same title on three successive occasions – Ian Woosnam (1990-92 Monte Carlo Open), Sir Nick Faldo (1991-93 Irish Open), Colin Montgomerie (1998-2000 PGA Championship), Tiger Woods (1999-01, 2005-07 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and 2005-07 WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Ernie Els (2002-04 Heineken Classic).

 

But Gallacher is not approaching this week any differently to other events, even if he does find the Majlis Course very much to his liking every time he returns.  In order to complete his rare hat-trick, the Scot must overcome a hugely impressive field that includes World Number One Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer and Ernie Els, a three-time champion at the Dubai Desert Classic.

 

“I’m going to approach it the same as last year, not try to put too much pressure on myself and just go ahead and enjoy it. Hopefully come Sunday, I’m in position to give it a good go,” said Gallacher. “My plan is to try and not put myself under any pressure. I mean, I’d love to make it three in a row, don’t get me wrong. To win last year on the 25th anniversary was special, with the field and with the history behind it.”

 

“Losing the lead like I did in Abu Dhabi was a new situation, and actually I’m very glad that it happened. Because it happens at one stage in your career. I think it’s very tough to avoid and I don’t know if you want to avoid it, because those things, they are not nice when it happens, but afterwards, you are even more motivated because you grow a lot on the golf course, as a golf player and also as a person,” admitted Kaymer. “And therefore, you became more mature. It was almost like a life lesson, not only golf lesson that I got there. So therefore, I’m very glad that happened.”

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