Stephen Gallacher teed off the golf season in West Lothian after lockdown restrictions were lifted last week.
The four-time European Tour Winner played his first round in months on Friday May 29 at his local course in Linlithgow, Kingsfield Golf Club, alongside his son Jack.
The Gallachers were joined by throngs of other golfers as people descended on courses throughout the county.
Speaking to the West Lothian Courier Stephen said: “It has been a bit weird because the weather has been so good and the courses are just sitting there immaculate.
“I look down onto the course from my house so it was nice to get out and I was down there today again (Monday) just trying to get back to a wee bit of normality.
“It is where I do most of my practice, it is nice and handy and you have all the facilities there, so it is good for me. I am down there quite a bit and then hopefully further afield I can head down the coast to The Renaissance so I can practice on a different golf course.”
The global pandemic stopped the 45-year-old from building momentum following his fourth European Tour Win in India last year but the Dechmont-born man is not bitter.
Stephen is just glad to be coming out of the other end the crisis with all his family around him and has been happy practicing alone.
He continued: “It was one of these things and I was happy just to stay safe. When you have got a serious thing like this you are just trying to do the right thing.
“I was just hitting balls into a net and you just have to ride these things out, hopefully come out at the other end with everyone safe around about you and then you can crack on again.
“I quite enjoyed the break to be honest, I never normally get a break like this, where you can work on other aspects of your game, like your fitness and stuff like that, so it was tough but it wasn’t frustrating or anything like that.”
The European Tour was suspended on March 8 but is due to return in July with a six-week ‘UK Swing’ tournament to be played behind closed-doors.
Stephen is looking forward to taking part but hopes there are no set backs along the way as golf and sport venture into unknown territory.
He added: “Hopefully we are back playing professional golf on July 23, which will be good.
“It looks like it is going to be six tournaments, with four in England and two in Wales, so fingers crossed we actually get started and there is no spikes or anything like that.
“I think you need sport, even watching it on television or participation, it is great for mental health so I hope that we can get started.
“And I can get back to competing again and doing what we do but it is going to be a lot more different than the norm, so it will take a wee while to get used to and adjust to that.”
