The win lifted the 29-year-old from 177th in the world rankings to a career-high 68th, and to 12th on the Order of Merit.

If he can stay inside the top 15 on the money list until the end of the season, he will qualify for three of next year’s four major championships, securing his début in the US Open and USPGA having failed to make the cut in his only two major appearances in the Open championship in 1995 and 1999.

But the Scot is also out to secure his place at Augusta in April by finishing in the top 50 in the world at the end of the season, and is looking to move a step closer in in this week’s Mallorca Classic at Pula Golf Club.

“Last week was a career change for me and the goalposts have moved a wee bit,” admitted Gallacher, who turned pro in 1995 after a successful Walker Cup with GB&I at Royal Porthcawl.

However, his previous best finishes have been as a runner-up twice – in the Great North Open in 2001 and the Seville Open in April.

“I had been knocking on the door for so long and to do it at St Andrews is like a dream come true.

“Hopefully, now I can go out and win again. I’d like to get into the world championship events now, and the majors. That’s what you play for.”

Gallacher’s first prize of £445,000 (€648,900) last week is almost four times the amount on offer on the Balearic island but that has not deterred Sergio Garcia from playing.

Garcia, who won four-and-a-half points out of five in Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup triumph last month, has turned down the chance to win £1m (€1.5m) in the World Match Play at Wentworth to compete for a first prize of £115,000 (€167,700).

The 24-year-old will be a hot favourite to win his first title on home soil since the 2002 Spanish Open as he plays in the 10th of 11 events he needs to fulfil membership of the European Tour.

Fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, who has been involved in the redesign of the course, is also competing alongside former Open champion Paul Lawrie but last year’s winner Miguel Angel Jimenez will not defend his title as he competes at Wentworth instead.

The event is also the penultimate chance for players to earn enough money to secure their card for next season, with only the top 115 on the Order of Merit certain of playing rights for 2005.

Among those fighting for survival is England’s Jamie Spence, who broke down in tears 12 months ago after finishing third here to keep his card, and Scotland’s Gary Orr whose career has been hampered by illness and injury since he won twice in 2000.