Illness forces Gallacher to rest

Gallacher has seen his form dip as he struggles with illness

Stephen Gallacher has been granted the option of a medical exemption from the European Tour.

The Bathgate golfer has been suffering from a debilitating disease and plans to take an extended break after the Scottish Open to recover.

"Even if I win this week, I'm probably going to take two or three months off to get back to full fitness," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"If I finish high up, I would have to think about playing in The Open."

Gallacher lies 187th in the European Tour Race To Dubai Standings, with only the top 115 players retaining their cards at the end of the season.

"I spoke to (Tour officials) David Garland and Jamie Spence and they totally understand my situation. You get the aggregate amount of tournaments someone on 115 would make.

"Say it's 25 and I play 15, then I get 10 tournaments next year to make up the money."

The nephew of former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher turned professional in 1995 and is a former winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

"I started to feel unwell in January," he explained. "I had stiffness in my legs and incessant coughing.

"I went through some tests and the auto-immune disease Sarcoidosis was the prognosis. I was put on a course of steroids and had six weeks without touching a golf club.

"It's been really tough but I've been trying to struggle on when I shouldn't have.

"It's a hard enough game when you are 100%, so I'm not doing myself any justice. I've not played a practice round for a month.

"But luckily I know the Loch Lomond course well. I finished sixth last year so there are some good memories and sleeping in your own bed helps.

"I've kind of made my mind up (about resting), so it's a weight off my shoulders and I'm ready to just go out and give it a go."

Despite the setback, Gallacher is confident that he will be back competing at his best next season.

"It's just one of those things," he said. "Once it clears up, it goes away completely.

"I've never had a holiday, so I'll just take some time out and chill with my young family."