Play-off agony for McDowell

SCOTLAND’S Stephen Gallacher fought off the challenge of Ireland’s Graeme McDowell in a play-off to register his maiden European Tour win at the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews yesterday.

The 29-year-old from Bathgate achieved a glorious success in his own country to pick up a cheque for £450,000 and move to 12th in the Volvo Order of Merit.

Gallacher, rated 157th in the world, is the nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard and he kept his nerve to triumph at the first play-off hole.