Celtic fan Stephen Gallacher has been given a huge lift ahead of his Ryder Cup debut - by a good luck message from Martin O'Neill.

Gallacher is representing Europe in the biennial contest with the United States for the first time at Gleaneagles this week.

As the only Scot in Paul McGinley's side, there is enormous pressure on the 39-year-old from Bathgate to perform well.

But he has been buoyed by a call from legendary Hoops boss and current Republic of Ireland gaffer O'Neill.

"I've had a lot of good luck messages from all of my friends and I even had one from Martin O'Neill which was nice," he said.

"I've spoken to him a couple of times. He is Paul's friend. I spoke to him when I was at the US Masters and he sent me a voicemail.

"He just said: 'Well done for getting in. You'll love the team environment. Probably one of the best weeks of your life'. He's right as well. It will be."

Gallacher has also had his spirits lifted by the motivational talk given to the European team by Sir Alex Ferguson on Tuesday night.

The former Manchester United manager is a huge golf fan and he was asked to speak to the players by skipper McGinley.

"I thought he was brilliant," said Gallacher. "He spoke for half-an-hour and then we asked him some questions. He was very candid and open.

"There were definitely bits from it that I can take away and I will use this week. It will help us progress as a team going forward.

"I was struck by how confident he was as a person. To hear him talking, it was easy to see why the players respected him so much and how he had such success.

"You could see his passion for the game, see how much he loves football, how much he loves strategy.

"He said he misses it a bit. He is an absolute legend in my eyes."

Gallacher, who was handed one of three wild cards by McGinley at the start of this month, has also been highly impressed by the Irishman's leadership qualities this week.

He said: "Paul's been brilliant. He has been very thorough. He has left no stone unturned.

"I haven't heard a negative comment from anybody. Everybody is upbeat and positive.

"We are all having fun and that is what Paul wants. The Bob Torrance quote Paul has put upon the wall is 'happiest days of your lives'. And that is true."

Gallacher is certain to have lots of support from the Scottish spectators in the huge galleries which will swarm the fairways at the Perthshire course.

And the three-time European Tour winner reckons he will be able to feed off that backing and perform to the very best of his abilities.

He said: "I'm hoping I will really enjoy it. When you come up the tunnel to the first tee it is like walking into a football stadium.

"I've never experienced the atmosphere on the first tee at the Ryder Cup. But I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself.

"The first tee at the US Masters at Augusta is pretty good and the first tee at the Open at St Andrews is pretty nice too.

"I know that this is going to be tougher. But hopefully I am going to enjoy it. I may be a Ryder Cup rookie, but I am not a rookie to golf."

Gallacher may be battling to contain his excitement but European team-mate Sergio Garcia is convinced he is ready for action.

The Spaniard, who is playing in his seventh Ryder Cup, said: "Stephen has been great. He's obviously very excited about it, not only because he's Scottish, but it's his first Ryder Cup.

"He's played really, really hard this year to be a part of this team, and you can see it in his eyes that he's willing and he's ready."