Scottish Open: Stephen Gallacher says there is no pressure to do well

Stephen Gallacher has his sights on September's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles

Scottish golfer Stephen Gallacher says he is not under pressure at this week's Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen.

The Scot has his sights on September's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, with European captain Paul McGinley earlier this week urging the home players to force their way into his plans.

"I don't need to do well here - I've still got six or seven events," Gallacher told BBC Scotland.

"There's no pressure at all on me this week, it's just another tournament."

Phil Mickelson's wins in the Scottish Open and Open last year has helped persuade more big names to travel to the north east for the Hoylake showpiece next week.

Gallacher will partner Justin Rose and Luke Donald for the first two rounds of the Scottish Open, while the defending champion will be joined by Luke Donald, with Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Rickie Fowler and Ernie Els among the others sure to draw big crowds.

"When you see the field here this week it's testament to the tournament," added Gallacher. "I think Phil opened the door winning back-to-back last year and you see a lot of guys from overseas and a lot of guys high up the rankings playing.

"Obviously the Ryder Cup is a goal of mine but the key for me is not to think too much about it" - Gallacher

"I like playing links golf and the course is in great shape, that's all I'm going to be focusing on," added Gallacher.

"You go to a lot of courses and you're playing with French guys there, Americans, and they've got the following and you can see it spur them on. You've got people you know are coming to see you and you've got a lot of friends and stuff like that so it can just lift you up and give you that impetus."

Gallacher said that the key is for the Scots to get on with their own game and not try too hard.

He added: "It is our national open, it's an open we'd all love to win and finish as high as we can but you've just got to get on with the job in hand and do what you do well."

Gallacher is currently the highest-ranking Scot and is very much in contention for a place at the Ryder Cup, sitting 11th on the European points list and 13th on the world points list.

"Obviously the Ryder Cup is a goal of mine but the key for me is not to think too much about it," he said. "It's hard but you've got to, that's my job is to try and do that.

"The only way I'm going to get in it is by playing well and scoring high up the leaderboard in these tournaments. That's my main focus at every tournament."