Rory McIlroy may need a rest, but rookie Stephen Gallacher is happy to get back to work in the ISPS Handa Wales Open to escape the "manic" Ryder Cup preparations at Gleneagles.

Gallacher lives just 35 miles from the PGA Centenary course and has been in high demand as the only Scottish player on the team since being named as one of European captain Paul McGinley's three wild cards.

McGinley said he was glad Gallacher had made the trip to Celtic Manor along with team-mates Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn and Jamie Donaldson, and the 39-year-old was quick to agree.

"I'm quite happy to be back to work," Gallacher said. "It's starting to get a bit manic up the road with it coming up so soon now. I've been up to the course a couple of times and it's very similar to the course here set-up wise, with the run-offs off the greens. I'm looking forward to playing this week, also. It is going to be good practise for next week, it's very similar.

"When you go to Gleneagles now, you see the enormity of the tournament and everything behind the scenes, the stands and the hospitality. You realise how big a deal it is."

Westwood has seen it all before after eight consecutive appearances and after getting himself in shape by losing 23lb in six weeks, the 41-year-old believes he is in the right place to get his game in shape as well.

"I like to play the week before an important event and for it to coincidentally to be where we won the last Ryder Cup on European soil, is obviously a nice little tie-in and gives you a good feeling," Westwood said.

Meanwhile, McGinley said he has a "skeleton plan" in place for his pairings and that the three rookies - Gallacher, Victor Dubuisson, and Jamie Donaldson - will play at least one match before the singles.