Former Ryder Cup star gets apology after DP World Tour took away his playing rights
By Matt Chivers
Former European Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher was forced into DP World Tour Q-school this year for the first time since 2009 after losing his card.
He finished 173rd in the Race to Dubai in 2022, then his playing rights were reduced to a category that gave him fleeting exemptions on the DP World Tour and the Challenge Tour after failing to get through Q-School.
But an incredible twist in the tale has handed the Scotsman a reprieve.
Gallacher has immediately returned to the tour this week after a “genuine administrative error” excluded him from the first six months of the schedule.
He has kept his playing rights via his position on the Career Money List. The tour has given the 48-year-old an “unreserved apology” and will extend his membership in 2024 to make up for the lost time.
Gallacher was initially told category 11 concerning career money wouldn’t allow him playing rights, but this decision has been reversed.
The four-time winner of the formerly-named European Tour made his 600th start at the AVIV Dubai Championship in 2021, and he has since spoken about the hardship he’s experienced in the time he spent away from the tour.
“The past six months have been hard, and sitting on the sidelines watching tour events is no substitute for playing in them,” he said via the Bounce website.
“I am as competitive now as I have always been, and from Qualifying School, to last minute DP World Tour invitations, through to Challenge Tour events, my ambition and desire to get back playing and winning has never wavered.”
“I am still hugely motivated and I can now plan my schedule for the rest of this campaign to try to secure my card back based purely on my results on the course.”
Gallacher made his sole appearance for Team Europe at Gleneagles in 2014. Despite failing to deliver a point, Paul McGinley’s side comfortably triumphed over the Americans.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
