LLOYD SALTMAN has revealed the US Open success of former playing partner Rory McIlroy helped inspire him to equal his best score on the European Tour.
The 25-year-old shot a six-under-par 66 in Munich to claim a share of ninth place beside fellow Scot Paul Lawrie on 137 – just three shots off the pace.
The BMW International Open score matches a similar 66 he shot on day two of January’s Joburg Open and the Tour rookie admits watching McIlroy march to glory at Congressional on Sunday has filled him with renewed confidence.
Saltman played in the 2007 Walker Cup team with McIlroy and the pair have been good friends ever since.
The Scot said: “It really inspires me seeing the guys from that Walker Cup squad doing well and watching Rory gave me a real lift coming here this week.
“He did something special in taking the US Open and it just puts into perspective how achievable winning tournaments really is.
“I sent Rory a text message to say well done and I was so pleased to watch the way he played the last round.
“His win has given me a lot of belief as I now know people who were on the same Amateur team as me in 2007 can go on and win a Major.
“And Rory did not just win a Major – he blew the field away.
“And it would be nice, fingers crossed, to get a text from Rory come Sunday afternoon.”
Saltman, left, birdied the closing four holes of his outward nine yesterday as he hit a purple patch with his putter that saw him hole everything including a 25-footer at the seventh.
The Edinburgh ace said: “I played well on Thursday so I was positive going out there today and making four birdies in a row got me flying.
“I was making the birdies and also holing good putts for par.”
