Ryder Cup winner Stephen Gallacher is ready to pursue his American dream as he embarks on a bid to secure playing privileges on the PGA Tour.
The Press and Journal columnist will fly to the United States on Friday to begin his preparations for the US Masters at Augusta National next week, but it is not just Georgia on Gallacher’s mind.
The 40-year-old will play in 12 ranking US events this season and he hopes he can earn enough to secure his card for 2016.
Gallacher, who is 39th in the world rankings, said: “I’ve got the chance to play in these tournaments and if it leads to me getting my PGA Tour card then I’d be a fool to turn it down.
“The Fed-Ex Cup is huge and I look at it and think ‘who wouldn’t want to play for $10million? (£6.7million).
“The scheduling at the start of the year is something I look at closely every season and if playing in America was an option it would make life easier for me.
“It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly but I believe it’s manageable and I owe it to myself to give it a go.
“I’m estimating I would have to get around £500,000 in prize money from the US events to gain my card for next year, but one good week is all it would take.”
The Press and Journal columnist has watched many of his Ryder Cup team-mates base split their time on tour between the United States and the European Tour and while Gallacher hopes to do the same, he added: “I’m not turning my back on the European Tour. If everything goes well I plan on playing in the Fed-Ex Cup in the PGA Tour and the Final Series in Europe.
“Justin Rose and Lee Westwood were able to play in three of the four Final Series events last year while Henrik Stenson also played in a couple.
“I’m relying on invites and exemptions this year, but having a PGA Tour card would give me more flexibility. But I won’t be relocating to the United States, I plan on basing myself where I am now.
“I’ve got another nine tournaments to play on the PGA Tour this year which will mean I play 12 tournaments by the end of the season.
“I’m relying on invitations and exemption which I have due to my world ranking at the end of last year (35th) but hopefully I can do enough in those events to earn my card for next year too.
“If I do that it can only help my Ryder Cup prospects for next year as I’ll have both the Ryder Cup points list and the money list to try to make the team.”
Gallacher’s decision means there will inevitably be fixture clashes and he said: “Unfortunately I’ve got one clash of schedules in July when I’ll be playing in the Quicken Loans National which means I’ll miss the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay at Murcar Links.
“I know Chippy’s disappointed I won’t be there and if I hadn’t been in America that week I would have, but I have to set my season schedule out in a way that is best for me.”