Stephen Gallacher is hoping a new partnership with an East Kilbride caddie can help the former Ryder Cup player kick-start his European Tour career.

The 41-year-old Bathgate player has suffered with a niggling hand injury since last May and has dropped down to 209th spot on the world rankings.

Having had surgery on the troublesome tendon, Gallacher is now fully fit and will resume his season in this week’s Shenzhen Open in China.

The triple Tour champion has also employed the services of former Queen of the South footballer Steven Pettit as his new bagman after splitting from Damian Moore following six years together.

He said: “Damian and I had six good years but the split was amicable. We both felt we needed a change.

“Steven is a really good caddie and he caddied for me before when Damian’s wife had a baby. We’re both keen to get going.”

Gallacher’s injury woes have been a major hindrance over the last few months but the Scot is now looking to a profitable, pain-free future.

He added: “It was a nightmare really. For the last four tournaments of last year I was dying. I couldn’t warm up, I couldn’t hit any balls in practice, I had to pull out of pro-ams.

“The tendon is like a cable and the surgeon just cut it and all the water and fluid came out. I phoned the surgeon up the other week and said ‘it’s still sore after hitting balls’. But he said I’ll have discomfort for three months and that’s normal. The big thing is that I can’t do it any more damage and it’s a huge relief.

“It’s like staring all over again. I have my appetite back and my desire back and I can now practice again. It was great watching the Masters just to get geed up. I was playing at Augusta the last couple of years and when I’m fully fit I know I can get back there. Sitting watching that on the TV makes you want to do it more. That’s the goal, to try and get that invitation back in the post again.”