Gallacher hopeful of pick from Paul

David Howell helped deny his good friend Stephen Gallacher an automatic Ryder Cup place, but believes it would be a "travesty" if the Scot is not handed a wild card from European captain Paul McGinley.

Gallacher needed to win the Italian Open or finish joint second with just one other player to dislodge Ireland’s Graeme McDowell from the team for Gleneagles. But despite carding a flawless closing 65 at Circolo Golf Torino, the 39-year-old finished in third place on 17 under, just one shot behind Howell — who fired a superb 63 — in second and three behind South African winner Hennie Otto.

After the year-long qualifying battle, Gallacher finished just 1.61 points behind McDowell, who posted a picture of his new-born daughter on Twitter with the message: “Watched the last few holes of the coverage. If Stevie G had passed me, I was keeping it all in perspective!! #blessed”.