The summing up was typically honest from a good, honest Scot.

"Matchplay can be a bit of a bugger at times; you can play great and lose, you can be rubbish and win," said Stephen Gallacher.

This was a Ryder Cup debut of mixed emotions for the 39-year-old. There was the euphoria of being part of the winning team and the sense-stirring elation of being cheered and roared at every turn. Losing heavily in his fourballs match with Ian Poulter on Friday was a sore one, though. His spirited showing against Phil Mickelson in the singles - he was four-under during a 3&1 defeat - showed what Gallacher is capable of. He was keeping esteemed company and the three-time European Tour winner is determined not to become a stranger to this intoxicating environment.

"I've heard it said that, when you play in one Ryder Cup, you never want to miss another; I understand that now," said Gallacher, who will return to action on home soil this week in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns but is already plotting a path to the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.

"Sam Torrance phoned me up a couple of months back, before I'd even qualified, and he said this would be the best week of my life. And, give him his due, he was right. This gives me a massive amount of motivation now. Martin Kaymer was sitting talking to me afterwards and he said: 'How's your motivation now for Hazeltine?' I just said: 'What do you think?'"

Following his Friday reversal, Gallacher sat out the whole of Saturday's play but he was very much part of the team effort.

"Every single one of them, the players and the vice-captains, spoke to me when I was left out, they made me feel so brilliant. When you are leaving four guys out of a session, there are going to be people unhappy sitting on the sidelines. Yes, I would have loved to have been involved. But would I rather sit out and have the team win? Yeah, I would always rather the team win."