Stephen Gallacher is hoping to make a big splash in this week's WGC Accenture Matchplay Championship after admitting he no longer feels like a fish out of water.

The West Lothian ace squares up to former Open champion Ernie Els in the first round at Dove Mountain today with a growing sense of self-assurance.

Gallacher, 39, revelled in the company of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy during his successful defence of the Dubai Desert Classic crown earlier this month.

That triumph propelled him into the top-40 of the world rankings and teed-up a host of big stage opportunities in America over the next few weeks.

With a huge number of Ryder Cup qualifying points up for grabs, too, Gallacher is eager to make the most of his chances and is now relishing a head-to-head in Arizona with the man known as the Big Easy.

He said: "You have to be comfortable in the company of guys like Ernie, Tiger and Rory if you want to improve.

"Sometimes you can feel like a fish out of water but If you feel as though you belong in company like that, you're not going to be overawed and you just get on with your own game."

If Gallacher conquers Els, he could face US Open champion Justin Rose in the second round at Dove Mountain. But first Englishman has to get past Scott Piercy in his opener.

Rose is one of 10 European Ryder Cup heroes from the 2012 Miracle at Medinah in the 64-man field for the WGC Accenture Matchplay Championship - which has a total purse of £5.4million.

McIlroy is rated a 14/1 favourite to win the £915,000 first prize. The 24-year-old Northern Irishman faces former US Ryder Cup player Boo Weekley today.

A victory could set up a second round clash with Lee Westwood who takes on rising American star Harris English.

The 2010 world matchplay winner Ian Poulter takes on American Rickie Fowler.