Bernard Gallacher (born 9 February 1949) is a Scottish retired professional golfer. He captained the Europe team to victory in the 1995 Ryder Cup.
Early life and amateur career Gallacher was born in Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland. He took up golf at the age of eleven.
In 1965, he won the Lothians Golf Association Boys Championship. He won the 1967 Scottish Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship and turned professional the same year.
Professional career He won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award in 1968. His first professional wins came in 1969; a pair of them in Zambia and another pair in Europe in the equivalent of European Tour events. (The European Tour wasn't established until 1972.) He finished 1969 as Order of merit winner earning the Harry Vardon Trophy.
He accumulated ten wins on the European Tour between 1974 and 1984 and finished in the top ten on the European Tour Order of Merit five times between 1972 and 1982, with a best placing of third in 1974.
In 1969, at the age of 20, Gallacher became the youngest man to represent Great Britain in the Ryder Cup up to that time. This record was subsequently beaten by Nick Faldo and others. He went on to play in the Ryder Cup eight times and was non-playing captain of the European Team in 1991, 1993 and 1995. All three of those matches were very close; Europe lost the first two but won the third.
After turning 50, Gallacher played on the European Seniors Tour. His first senior win came at The Mobile Cup in 2002.
Gallacher was the professional at the Wentworth Club near London for 25 years until the end of 1996. He wrote a column for Scottish golf magazine bunkered from 1998 until 2008.
Personal life
Gallacher's daughter Kirsty was a presenter on Sky Sports News for 20 years. Another daughter, blogger and former restaurateur Laura Gallacher, is married to English comedian Russell Brand.
Gallacher is uncle to professional golfer Stephen Gallacher, European Tour winner and Ryder Cup player.
In August 2014, Gallacher was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.
Awards and honors In 1968, Gallacher earned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, bestowed to the British PGA's Rookie of the Year. In 1969, he won the British PGA's Order of Merit thereby earning the, Harry Vardon Trophy. In 1996, Gallacher was awarded the OBE for services to golf. On 19 March 2010, a life size bronze sculpture of Gallacher, in teing-off position, was unveiled close to the first tee of the West Course at the Wentworth Club, England. In November 2013, The Scottish Golf Awards, jointly organized by the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, announced Gallacher to be honoured with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at the Scottish Golf Awards gala on 28 February 2014 in Glasgow. In August 2022, Gallacher received the honour of Life Membership of Professional Golfers' Association.
Amateur wins 1967 Scottish Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship, Tennant Cup
Source:
Professional wins (23) European Tour wins (10) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up123 Jun 1974Carroll's Celebration International−17 (72-71-68-68=279)3 strokes Jack Newton25 Oct 1974Dunlop Masters−2 (71-70-69-72=282)Playoff Gary Player34 Oct 1975Dunlop Masters (2) +5 (74-70-71-74=289)2 strokes Dale Hayes416 Apr 1977Spanish Open−11 (70-68-70-69=277)2 strokes Francisco Abreu513 May 1979French Open−8 (71-69-74-70=284)1 stroke Willie Milne621 Sep 1980Haig Whisky TPC−8 (68-65-66-69=268)3 strokes Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer714 Jun 1981Cold Shield Greater Manchester Open−16 (65-69-63-67=264)5 strokes Nick Faldo816 May 1982Martini International−7 (71-71-68-67=277)3 strokes José María Cañizares, Nick Faldo96 Jun 1982Jersey Open−15 (69-66-68-70=273)Playoff Eamonn Darcy, Des Smyth103 Jun 1984Jersey Open (2)−14 (66-71-68-69=274)2 strokes Sandy Lyle
European Tour playoff record (2–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11973Portuguese Open Jaime BenitoLost to par on first extra hole21974Dunlop Masters Gary PlayerWon with birdie on first extra hole31978European Open Championship Gil Morgan, Bobby WadkinsWadkins won with birdie on first extra hole41982Jersey Open Eamonn Darcy, Des SmythWon with par on fifth extra holeDarcy eliminated by birdie on second hole
Other wins (12) 1969 (4) Eagle Open, Cock o' the North, Schweppes PGA Championship, W.D. & H.O. Wills Tournament 1970 (1) Mufulira Open 1971 (1) Martini International 1973 (2) Coca-Cola Young Professionals' Championship, Scottish Professional Championship 1974 (1) Scottish Professional Championship 1977 (1) Scottish Professional Championship 1981 (1) Sanyo Open 1983 (1) Scottish Professional Championship
European Seniors Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up114 Jul 2002Mobile Cup−12 (67-68-66=201)4 strokes Delroy Cambridge
Results in major championships
Tournament19691970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTCUTT37CUTT18T24T19T60CUTT22CUT Tournament19801981198219831984198519861987Masters TournamentThe Open ChampionshipCUTCUTT25T19T31T47CUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1969 Open Championship) "T" = tied Note: Gallacher never played in the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship.
Team appearances Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland/Europe): 1969 (tie), 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1991 (non-playing captain), 1993 (non-playing captain), 1995 (winners, non-playing captain) World Cup (representing Scotland): 1969, 1971, 1974, 1982, 1983 Double Diamond International: 1971, 1972, 1973 (winners), 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 Marlboro Nations' Cup/Philip Morris International (representing Scotland): 1973 (winners), 1976 Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1974 (winners), 1978 (winners), 1982 (winners), (representing Scotland) 1984 (captain) Datsun International (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1976
See also
List of golfers with most European Tour wins
References
External links