ISPS HANDA SENIOR OPEN

July 22, 2026

Stephen Gallacher

The Gleneagles Hotel, Kings Course

Quick Quotes

Q. How much are you looking forward to this week?

STEPHEN GALLACHER: Yeah, can't wait to get started tomorrow. It means a lot to me, Gleneagles. I made my debut in a professional event in 1993 as an amateur in The Scottish Open.

So obviously played the Ryder Cup and stuff, so it's just really nice to get back. Stay at home. Lots of friends. Very familiar with the place. The course is in magnificent condition. The weather has been so good, so can't wait.

Q. And what special memories does that give from you 2014 at the Ryder Cup?

STEPHEN GALLACHER: I think the minute you drive through the gates, experience the sort of elation of winning the Ryder Cup and what it was -- the sort of run-up to and how many times I've been here. Been playing here for 20-odd years.

Just a place I love coming, probably one of the best facilities in Scotland for golf. As a Scot coming back here, you just get the emotions and you just feel good the minute you walk through the gates.

Q. You made your Senior Open debut last year at Sunningdale, how was that experience for and you what did you take from that?

STEPHEN GALLACHER: I really enjoyed Sunningdale last year. Again, another fantastic golf course. My uncle and my cousin are members. Been down there and played it quite a bit. Qualified for the U.S. Open and The Open back in the day. Just a fantastic, old brilliant golf course, very similar to here. A lot of history.

It's a great event. Pádraig and Ernie and all the guys I grew up playing with and all the men's game or winners back in the day, back competing again with them. It's got a great feeling of a very big tournament.

Q. And what can we expect from the Kings Course this week and how has it developed?

STEPHEN GALLACHER: We've had such good weather, the course is as good as I've ever seen it. It was ready a month ago. I'd say the only difference is the rough is pretty juicy now. It's a fair test, and you've just got to keep it straight. The greens are fast. They are pure. If the weather stays like this, it's going to be a hell of a week.

Q. You've had some good results on the Legends Tour. Do you feel confident coming into the week?

STEPHEN GALLACHER: Yeah, you do your preparation as always. I've been playing well this year. I've been preparing well. I feel good. I'm fit. Just hope that you get the breaks.

All you can do as a pro, you just want to be in contention on a Sunday with a chance to win, especially in front of my friends and family and stuff, that would be lovely.

Q. What would it mean to win the Senior Open on home soil?

STEPHEN GALLACHER: I think if you ask the ten Scots playing in the field, they would all say a proper dream come true. Missed the chance of winning The Open, so this is the second best, if you ask me. This is probably the best tournament I'll play as a senior. And to have it in Scotland on a course, like you say, that I'm very familiar with, would be just another steppingstone and a great achievement for me and something that I would love to do.