TEN years ago Scot Stephen Gallacher edged out Graeme McDowell in a play-off to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

After that the pair's career paths veered off in different directions - until this week, when they were reunited at Gleneagles in Perthshire.

The Bathgate pro and the Northern Irishman will line up for Team Europe as they go into battle with the USA's stars on the PGA Centenary Course.

Gallacher's appearance at the Ryder Cup this year is a fitting reward for his patience and determination.

After his 2004 triumph the nephew of Scots golfing legend Bernard Gallacher had to wait nine years before he captured another European Tour title.

McDowell, in contrast, rose into the select ranks of Major champions by winning the US Open at Pebble Beach in June 2010. And four months later he won the crucial last point that clinched Europe's Ryder Cup victory at Celtic Manor.

Now it's Gallacher's turn to take centre stage as he flies the saltire in the first Ryder Cup in Scotland since 1973.

Two months away from his 40th birthday, he has enjoyed the best season of his career with another tour victory and a series of top-10 finishes.

McDowell is delighted that his new team-mate is finally fulfilling his vast potential.

He said: "I remember that play-off in the Dunhill. I knew then that Stephen was a very, very good player.

"But in this game there is really no sure-fire recipe for success. There's the fast way and there's the slow way.

"This game is very difficult physically and mentally and guys mature at different levels and at different rates."

Ironically, it was Gallacher who came closest to blocking McDowell's qualification for this year's European team.

Last month the Scot knew he'd clinch the last guaranteed spot if he finished second in the Italian Open in Turin.

He missed out by one shot and finished third, allowing McDowell to hold on to the last automatic qualifying place.

But Gallacher's agony then turned to ecstasy when team captain Paul McGinley made him one of his wild-card picks.

And G-Mac insists his new team-mate will be a valuable addition to the Euro cause.

The Ulsterman said: "I was acutely aware of what was going on in Italy when Stephen came within a whisker of taking my automatic spot.

"Only a final round of 63 from David Howell pipped him on the line. Stephen probably deserved to take my automatic spot. Yes he's a wild card and a rookie but we all believe he deserves to be on the team.

"And hopefully he knows he deserves to be on the team.

"He'll stands on that first tee on Friday and be ready to go.

"Stephen has a great record around Gleneagles, with seven top-10 finishes on the course.

"He has the right attitude and the right personality and he'll fit right in. He'll bring a great dynamic to the team."

McDowell remains one of Europe's steeliest Ryder Cup campaigners with a host of nerve-jangling experiences in this fraught golfing arena.

He secured that vital victory point in the 2010 match and opened proceedings two years ago at Medinah when he hit the first tee shot.

And he believes the strength shown by his mother in her fight with Multiple Sclerosis has given him the resolve to succeed under pressure.

THE 35-year-old Portrush star, who became a father for the first time recently, said: "I have been lucky to hit a few good shots under the gun in my career.

"I'm a guy who embraces the high-pressure scenarios.

"They are very unusual scenarios because you crave them but, when you are actually in the middle of them, you kind of wish you weren't because it can be very, very tough

"However, if you do succeed in that type of environment they are very, very rewarding experiences. And I have been blessed, thankfully, with some level of fortitude.

"I sometimes wonder where I got it from and I think that for the last 10 years or so it's come from my mother.

"She is suffering from MS but is a pretty tough cookie. She's a very strong person.

"My mother has certainly given me perspective and some strength of mind. I would love to get the chance to test that out again this week."

McDowell added: "The great thing about a Ryder Cup is that you are under Sunday afternoon pressure from the first tee shot on Friday.

"There nothing quite like that pressure and nervousness to really focus the mind and ask questions of yourself.

"And I'm looking forward to answering some of those questions this weekend."