Lloyd Saltman on the first hole at last years Open, where he drove two balls out of bounds. Picture: Ian Rutherford
Having missed out on the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final in Dubai this week by more than 50 spots, Lloyd Saltman would appear to be in brittle shape for the ten-round test he is hoping can kickstart his career.
Using the second-tier circuit’s final regular event of the season in Oman to stop the slump that had seen him miss seven successive cuts, however, has perked the 28-year-old up for his crack at the European Tour Qualifying School.
Stage two begins on Saturday at four venues in Spain, with Saltman joining the hopefuls at El Saler in Valencia, along with compatriots George Murray, Neil Fenwick, Paul Ferrier, Wallace Booth and Scott Crichton.
Four rounds in that are followed by six more in the final stage in Girona almost straight afterwards but, having passed the marathon test in 2010 – he claimed a card then along with elder brother Elliot – Saltman is hoping it can once again bring out the best in him.
“It’s been a poor year and that’s proved very frustrating,” said the Archerfield Links player of making just four cuts in 18 starts on the Challenge Tour and finishing 96th on the money-list. “I’ve not achieved any consistency, so it was good to get a few weeks off recently to work on my game.
“The signs were better in Oman last week, when making the cut was pleasing after getting into a rut and missing a few. The break gave me the chance to sit down, refocus and work out what I needed to do.”
Extract from the Scotsman 3 November 2013 by Martin Dempster – to read the full article please clock here
