Stephen Gallacher: Euro Tour’s return more difficult than US circuit

Stephen Gallacher enjoyed watching golf’s return to TV screens last week but reckons the PGA Tour restarting was a walk in the park compared to the task facing the European Tour.

The European circuit is due to swing back into action in just over five weeks’ time with the Betfred British Masters, which is being hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, near Newcastle.

That is being played behind closed doors along with other events on six-tournament UK Swing at Forest of Arden, Hanbury Manor, a double-header at Celtic Manor and The Belfry.

The European Tour is spending more than £2 million on a health strategy that will be used to create a “bubble” environment at all the events as the sport takes its first steps out of the Covid-19 lockdown on this side of the Atlantic.

“You can’t believe what has gone into these tournaments being set to go ahead,” said Lothians star Gallacher, a member of the European Tour tournament committee.

“Everyone is looking to America and saying to me, ‘it’s brilliant’. Yes, you can look at America for a bit of an idea but probably only in the sense there are no fans and no stands. But you can’t compare the two.

“It is great they are back playing over there on the PGA Tour, but they are mainly from the one country and the majority of the players have been in that country during the lockdown. We’ve got people coming from all over the place.

“Ours is a very intricate and complicated to the American model. That’s why it’s been wise and clever of the European Tour to put these six events in the one country while quarantine is in place and there are still lots of restrictions.

“By the time these six events are over, we’ll be in to other phases and I am sure we are going to see sanctions lifted that allow us to get back to normality by playing in different countries.

“I think that’s what makes us what we are. You go to different countries and adapt. That’s what makes us good all-round players as well.”

In the PGA Tour’s first event since early March, American Daniel Berger won the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth on Sunday.

“It is brilliant for golf that these events are back,” added Gallacher. “I normally wouldn’t be an avid follower of golf in America, but I did see a bit of this event. It looked weird without the fans, but there’s still the same nerves and will to win.

“The fans and intensity can create a bit more excitement. You can’t beat playing in front of fans. That’s what you play the game for. But when we go to places like Saudi and Oman, emerging countries where you are trying to build the game, there are hardly any people out on the courses.

“We are there as prioneers trying to build it up. Dubai and Abu Dhabi never used to attract great crowds at events, but look at them now.

“We are used to playing in front of smaller crowds, so I don’t think it will effect us to start with when we return and hopefully they’ll gradually be fed back in.”