No better way to spend a day than on a golf course

By Stephen Gallacher

Published:

TIME away from the rigours of the European Tour, but not time away from the golf course.

I have enjoyed a mini-break this week with the family in Aviemore, but I am gearing up for my return to tournament play in Sweden next week before moving on to Holland then back home to Scotland at Gleneagles.

The US PGA championship takes centre stage this week, and the contingent of European golfers heading to Oakland Hills should be feeling great about themselves and their games.

There is no tradition of European winners in the tournament but take Tiger out of the equation and a lot more players will be thinking this could be their way.

The tournament is always played at a venue where the weather is guaran- teed to be desperately hot, the long rough will test the patience and power of the all the players in the field.

Lee Westwood continues to impress, but if I was putting the Gallacher pound down for a bet, I would lean to-wards Miguel Angel Jim- inez. The veteran Spaniard is at number two on the European Tour order of merit and is playing fantastically well.

The Americans did not show too well at the world championship event at Firestone last week, and Vijay Singh’s victory would have been all the more impressive had he been able to get the putter working better.

The Fijian has always been one of the hardest workers on tour, but he has eased back on the physical work and gone for quality.

Now into his 40s, the former bouncer in Scottish pubs and clubs seemed to just edging away from the top table of professional golf.

But as is always the case when it comes to the majors, go for the players in form and the likes of Singh and Phil Mickelson will be in contention for glory’s last shot come Sunday evening.

Although I am away from tournament play, I am not away from the golf course and I have been playing this week.

I took in Shiskine in Arran, which was fantastic despite the rain and I have also plans to play at Spey Valley and perhaps Boat of Garten this week.

Great courses, and I am not one of those professionals who gets as far away from the course as possible when not playing for money.

After all, a game of golf with your friends followed by a couple of beers is about the best way to spend a day.