having waited nearly 19 years to compete alongside Tiger Woods, Scotland's Stephen Gallacher finds himself accompanying the world No.1 for at least three days in this week's 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic.
In their first match-up since the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Portcawl, Gallacher outscored Woods by two shots with a round of 69 in yesterday's Former Champions Challenge.
Sweden's Henrik Stenson and Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello shared a $500,000 first prize with a pair of 66s as they took the honours in the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Dubai Desert Classic.
While Gallacher was on the course competing alongside Woods and his compatriot Fred Couples, organisers released the draw for the opening two rounds of the $2.5m event with Gallacher in the middle of a Woods and Rory McIlroy three-ball.
The 'Challenge' began with a group photograph of all past 20 winners since the first event in 1989 and with Javier Ballesteros representing his late, great father Seve.
Woods had flown from Florida via London after posting his second worst round as a professional, a seven -over par 79, to miss the third-round cut in his defence of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Woods narrowly avoided further embarrassment in Dubai yesterday when, minutes before teeing off, his caddie realised they had 16 clubs in his bag, so it was left to the tournament director, Adrian Flaherty to 'nurse' a spare Nike driver and 3-iron.
While Woods spent much of the 18 holes in banter with Couples, he was delighted to catch-up with his GB & I Walker Cup rival. "It was fun day and I hadn't played with Stephen in a long time, so it had been a while," said Woods. "We were reminiscing to way back to the Walker Cup at Royal Portcawl in '95. Playing with Fred is always a blast as I have known him for so long. He's almost been like a big brother to me over the years."
Gallacher was also looking forward to playing alongside McIlroy for the first time in his career. "Playing with both Tiger and Fred was brilliant as we chatted away and I thoroughly enjoyed it," said the Scot. "The course is in unbelievabtle condition and I've never seen greens as good as that for a Tuesday in my life. To be playing the first two rounds with the world No.1 and former world No.1, that's pretty good. These are the stages you want to be competing on.
Woods had birdied three holes in succession from the second and then took the lead with a birdie at the seventh but put a ball into the water at the 18th for a 71.
"Tiger's distance control is brilliant. He was pin high a lot and that's the key. He hit some lovely shots," said Gallacher. "There was a real buzz going on at the first tee and that will definitely be the case on Thursday and Friday. "When you are playing with the world No 1 you are bound to be a bit nervous."
Colin Montgomerie shared last placed yesterday with a round of 76.
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