Stephen Gallacher was set for a "mind blowing" experience after being paired with the talismanic figure of Ian Poulter in the opening session of fourballs in the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
The 39-year-old Scot will make his debut in the biennial battle on home soil in the company of a player who has a formidable Ryder Cup pedigree and has racked up 12 points from 15 matches.
The Gallacher-Poulter alliance will be out in the third match of the morning against the American partnership of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who are both making their first appearances in the Ryder Cup.
As the lone Scot in the first Scottish Ryder Cup for 41 years, Gallacher will be given a raucous reception and the three-time European Tour winner was last night relishing the prospect of teaming up with the inspirational figure of Poulter.
"For my first Ryder Cup, in Scotland, I couldn't have done better than to play with Poults," said Gallacher. "He is the epitome of the Ryder Cup; the passion and everything it involves. He knows what to do. He will be a calming influence. We are similar players so I'll just go out there, enjoy it and hopefully make lots of birdies."
Poulter, who has won his last seven matches in the Ryder Cup and was the major catalyst for Europe's Miracle of Medinah two years ago, had said earlier in the day that the ovation on the first tee for Gallacher would be "mind blowing".
After it was unveiled that he would be partnering the Scot, Poulter expressed his eager anticipation ahead of Europe's defence of the trophy. "I'm absolutely buzzing. Playing with Stevie G, in Scotland, in his first Ryder Cup? It's going to be amazing," he added.
Poulter is confident that Gallacher, with an impressive record around the PGA Centenary course, will rise to the occasion and handle the intense pressure. "I can expect him to hit it straight down the middle of the fairway like he's been doing in practice all week," said the Englishman with a reassuring smile. "It's a very big week for him but it's going to be amazing seeing the crowd pulling for him and that's the energy you need in a Ryder Cup. You need to feed off them. You need to enjoy it, embrace it and play with passion."
Paul McGinley, the European skipper, had left his other two rookies, Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson, out of the opening session but he had no qualms about putting Gallacher out in the early exchanges alongside a high-profile player like Poulter, who every American wants to beat.
"Stevie knows the course and the strong wind conditions we are forecasting would be right up his street," McGinley added. "He's proved himself as one of the top 12 players in Europe. So he just needs to go and be Stevie; just go and be Stevie. He has a big atmosphere guy on his shoulder and he'll enjoy playing his first Ryder Cup match. Who wouldn't with Poulter on your shoulder?"
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson will launch the European assault in the first tie against Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, while Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia take on Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
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