One Night from Augusta: John Gallagher on the 2005 British Amateur Final

From Linked By Golf by Ross McGuire

May 12, 2026 · 58 min · Season 1 · Episode 87

About this episode

Ross McGuire interviews John Gallagher about his experiences in Scottish amateur golf and the 2005 British Amateur Final.

Follow us on Instagram @linkedbygolfpodcast for clips, behind-the-scenes content and episode updates. In this episode, Ross is joined by John Gallagher — Scottish Amateur Champion, 2005 British Amateur finalist, and one of the most distinctive golfers to come out of Scottish amateur golf in the last two decades. John grew up at Swanston Golf Club on the edge of the Pentland Hills, where his dad worked as a greenkeeper. He picked up the game at 14, won his club junior championship within two years, and never looked back. What followed was a remarkable amateur career that took him to the Lothians county team, the Scotland national team, a famous run to the British Amateur final at Royal Birkdale, and ultimately the 2007 Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick. We cover all of it — including the night before the British Amateur final when John couldn't sleep for dreaming about Augusta, the moment his caddie gave away four of his five golf balls to kids while he was playing a practice round with a teenage Rory McIlroy at Loch Lomond, and the outrageous up-and-down on the 18th at Prestwick that kept his Scottish Amateur hopes alive when his ball was barely a yard inbounds. John…

People in this episode

Host: Ross McGuire

Guest: John Gallagher

Topics covered

Scottish amateur golf
British Amateur final
golf career
professional golf
golf injuries
Scottish Pro Tour

Keywords

John Gallagher
British Amateur
Scottish golf
golf career
Rory McIlroy
golf injuries
Scottish Pro Tour

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Scotland, Swanston Golf Club, Royal Birkdale, Loch Lomond, Prestwick