Stephen Gallacher

Born: November 1, 1974

Height: 6 ft 2 in

Birthplace: Dechmont, Scotland

Turned Pro: 1995

Sponsors: Taylor Made

The nephew of former European Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher, Stephen Gallacher’s career has been a testament to persistence.

Turning pro in 1995, Gallacher began playing on the European Tour in 1996. He struggled and bounced between the Challenge Tour and the European Tour for the next four years. In fact, Gallacher has endured four trips through the European Tour Qualifying School, the last one in 2009, before firmly establishing himself as a top professional golfer.

In 2004, Gallacher got his first European Tour victory at the purse-rich Dunhill Links Championship. The paycheck helped vault Gallacher into the top 15 in the European Order of Merit.

Another long drought would develop for Gallacher before he’d collect his second win. It finally came, more than 200 tournaments and eight years later at the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Gallacher recorded a round of 62 in the 3rd round on his way to victory. A year later, Stephen became the first repeat Champion at the Omega Dubai winning by a single stroke.

The victory and his consistent performance the entire season were enough to convince European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley to select Gallacher for the 2014 Ryder Cup which was being held in Gallacher’s native Scotland at the Gleneagles.

Gallacher had a solid amateur career before turning professional. He recorded 7 amateur wins including the 1992 Scottish Amateur and the 1994 European Amateur Individual Championship.

Gallacher and his wife Helen have a son and a daughter. Away from the course, he enjoys football (soccer), fishing, cycling and snooker (billiards).