They say you should never go back. But what do they know? Alan McCloskey was Stephen Gallacher’s coach when the Scot qualified for the European Ryder Cup team in 2014.
The duo have had two spells apart since then but having rekindled their partnership just a month ago, Gallacher is back in the winner’s circle for the first time in five years.
The 44-year-old’s terrific win in the Hero Indian Open on Sunday was the fourth European Tour victory of his career. The Gallacher-McCloskey alliance is back in the swing of things again, it seems.
“I’ve only been involved in Stephen’s game again for a month, it’s as little as that, but we have spent a lot of time together in that period and I’m chuffed to bits that it has come together for him,” said Bothwell Castle professional McCloskey before briefly going into the technicalities involved in this title-winning tune-up.
“It was a technical issue. We have basically worked on his left leg as that wasn’t going into a neutral enough position on the backswing. We have worked like lunatics for the last month on that. I’d be telling a lie if I said I knew he was going to win in India. But I did know that he wasn’t far away. I am absolutely delighted for him. He is 44 years of age and you wonder if it is ever going to come together again. But it has.”
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Chopping and changing coaches is par for the course in this game of fluctuating fortunes. Often, though, it’s a case of better the devil you know.
“Stevie and I have parted company twice,” added McCloskey. “Once it was my doing and the other time it was his doing. That’s sometimes the way it is. But sometimes it just takes a wee thing and before you know it you are back together again working as hard as you can.
“The thing I admire about Stevie is that his work ethic is phenomenal. In fact, it is second to none. His enthusiasm and drive to get his game back to where he wants it to be has never left him.”
McCloskey has enjoyed a satisfying start to 2019. One of his other clients, David Law, also won on the tour in Australia just six weeks ago. “At the end of the day, it’s down to what the golfer brings himself,” said McCloskey.”It is their success. If it was that easy, I’d have made myself a golfer.”
Gallacher has 553 European Tour appearances to his name. Sam Torrance holds the record with 706. “When Sam retired, they said nobody would ever beat him, but Stephen can do that if he stays injury-free, “ said McCloskey.
“What a phenomenal thing that would be to have on your tombstone.”
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