Lloyd Saltman Official Website

Gust Like Home for Saltman

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:09:30 +0000

They turned professional on the same day in 2007 and were good pals and rivals in the amateur game, but Lloyd Saltman and Rory McIlroy have veered off in different directions.

“He’s going to the White House to meet the President and he’s playing tennis with Sharapova these days,” chuckled Saltman, who still keeps in touch with his old sparring partner from the unpaid ranks.

While McIlroy now goes about his business in a different stratosphere, Saltman’s career has remained largely on the launch pad, but the Scot thrust himself into contention for a maiden European Tour win yesterday during round three of the Sicilian Open at the sparkling Verdura resort.

With winds gusting up to 25mph, it was more like his own backyard of Musselburgh than the Mediterranean and Saltman revelled in this golfing home from home, harnessing the elements to good effect with a three-under-par 69 for an eight-under 208. That left the 26-year-old four shots behind Danish front- runner Thorbjorn Olesen in a share of fourth heading into the final day.

Saltman’s rise into the upper reaches of the standings is made all the more impressive by the fact he has produced his best golf in the toughest of conditions. As the winds grew in menace during Friday’s second round, the former Open silver medal winner still covered his closing eight holes in five under and he carried that form into day three with a bogey-free card.

The highlight came on the raking 11th where he launched a three-wood off the fairway from 280 yards and holed the resulting putt of 20 feet for a birdie four. Equally important, however, was the salvage operation on the 18th which ensured his run without a dropped shot extended to 27 holes. He almost lost his drive in the left-hand rough but hacked out to the side of the green before comp-leting an excellent up-and-down with a 10ft putt to safeguard his par.

“This must be the best run I’ve had in a while given that I’ve not dropped a shot since my ninth hole of the second round,” said Saltman, whose best result on the main circuit to date was fourth in the Madeira Islands Open last year. “Coming back in 31 on Friday really changed things for me and that set me up perfectly for today.”

With an attacking style of play, Saltman has never been found wanting in the birdies or eagles department, but you only need to go back to his final event of his rookie season, when he finished ninth in the South African Open, to find evidence of some crippling calamities.

The former Walker Cup player reeled off 22 birdies over the four days but a quartet of double-bogeys over his last 24 holes cost him victory and, ultimately, his Tour card.

“I’ve always been a naturally aggressive player,” he added. “I push hard and that’s why I had success as an amateur. But it can make you inconsistent and the bogeys and doubles have cost me. But I’m just trying to get that one big result that can change your career and maybe this is the week for it.”

Nick Rodger, The Herald, 1 April 2012

Saltman watches and learns from Mickelson in final round

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:14:27 +0000

LLOYD SALTMAN, who stood alongside Tiger Woods when he won the Silver Medal in The Open at St Andrews in 2005, relished rubbing shoulders with another world star in the final round of the Barclays Scottish Open.
The Archerfield ace played with Phil Mickelson on the last day of the weather-hit event at Castle Stuart in Inverness. And he was on course to beat the world No.6 until the American “moved up a gear” with a burst of birdies around the turn.

It was great draw and I had a great day,” said Saltman after closing the £3 million event, won by world No.1 Luke Donald, with a third successive 70 to finish on six-under – one behind his playing partner.

“When I was looking on Friday after both our scores came in, I was hoping that I would be playing with Phil.

“It worked out well as it was a great experience, as was playing with Jeev Milka Singh (the third member in the group).

“I was trying to watch Phil as much as I could and pick up a few things.”

Saltman was ahead of Mickelson on the leaderboard until the former Masters champion produced a spurt with four birdies in a row from the 18th after they’d started at the tenth.

“I was out there trying to focus on my own game and shot a couple of under which was a bit disappointing but, at the same time, three 70s was solid,” added Saltman.

“He almost just turned it on when he had those four birdies in a row, one of them after a great up and down from a bunker at the second.

“He was great to play with and was very chatty, both him and his caddie ‘Bones’ (Jim Mackay). It was good fun out there with them.”

Saltman picked up a cheque for just over £7300 but dropped a spot to 107th in the Race to Dubai. “I was trying to get that spot in The Open but that would have been a bonus, to be honest, and it wasn’t to be,” he added.

“After seven events in a row, I think I probably need a rest and I’m looking forward to chilling out for three or four days before getting back to practising and getting myself ready for Sweden.”

from The Scotsman 11 July 2011
By MARTIN DEMPSTER

Watching Rory McIlroy win US Open inspired me to card my best round of European Tour

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:48:21 +0000

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.”

Bernie Mcguire, Scottish Daily Record, 25 June 2011

Lloyd Saltman to fore as Michael Hoey wins

Mon, 23 May 2011 07:28:46 +0000

Lloyd Saltman continued to make his mark on the European Tour with a share of fourth in the Madeira Islands Open at Porto Santo yesterday.
The Archerfield rookie, who earned his tour card at last December’s qualifying school, closed with a two-under 70 for a six-under 282 and finished four shots behind Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey, who won his second European crown with a 71 for 278.

Saltman, who has made seven cuts in nine events on the main circuit this season, picked up a cheque for £26,158 for his best finish of the campaign and moved up to 104th on the Race to Dubai rankings. Paisley’s Alastair Forysth, who won the Madeira title in 2008, saw his hopes dashed with a closing 75 for 284. The 35-year-old, two shots off the pace with a round to play, slipped back into a tie for 10th after a round marred by a double-bogey six on the 11th.

Extract from The Scotsman, 23 May 2011
By Marvin Collins

Late birdie blitz puts Lloyd Saltman in contention

Fri, 20 May 2011 07:37:26 +0000

LLOYD Saltman birdied three of the final four holes to lie just a shot off leader Englishman Chris Gane after the first round of the Madeira Islands Open.

Gane, 36, from Bromley in Kent, recorded a round of 67 to go a shot clear of early clubhouse leaders Francois Delamontagne and Saltman, with the Scot delighted with his finishing flourish.

Saltman, 25, had looked set for an unspectacular start to the tournament before his late surge allowed him to join Delamontagne in the lead early in the afternoon.

He said: “It was helpful playing in that type of wind in the Pro-Am yesterday, and also last week in Majorca the conditions were quite similar. Despite shooting five over in the end I actually played pretty well on the final day, which gave me a bit of confidence to take here.

“I got off to a nice solid start with a birdie at the third, then I dropped a shot at the seventh to drop back to level par. But I knew there were a few chances on the back nine, and I managed to come back in four under even with a bogey on the 14th, where I hit it off the cliffs but made birdie with my second ball. So I was pretty pleased with that, because it was a tough day but I stayed patient and got my rewards in the end.”

Trent Baker, The Scotsman, 20 May 2011

Lloyd Saltman makes progress in Sicilian Open

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:39:05 +0000

Lothians ace Lloyd Saltman survived a late wobble to make the cut in the Sicilian Open and gain another foothold on the European Tour.

The Archerfield ace, who has made the cut in his last three events, posted a one-under 70 over a windswept Donnafugata course for a one-over 143 and safely progressed through to the weekend’s action.

Boosted by an eagle-three at the seventh, where he holed his bunker shot, Saltman was coasting along until he double-bogeyed the 16th and then spilled a shot on the last when his approach landed under a TV buggy behind the green.

“It was a very tough day but I played very well apart from a couple of rookie mistakes,” he said. “It’s another cut made and we can now look to the weekend and try to move forward.”

Saltman’s Lothians colleague Stephen Gallacher also eased through on a 141 after a battling 70. The former Dunhill Links champion recovered from a wretched spell around the turn, where he dropped three shots in two holes, with birdies at 12 and 16 to repair the damage.

Colin Montgomerie posted a bogey-free 69 for a 138 to lead the Scots in a share of ninth behind halfway leader Anthony Wall, who hit a 67 for 133.

Published: The Scotsman, 19 March 2011

By NICK RODGER

Lloyd closes the deal in Spain

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:25:41 +0000

The recent graduate to the main European Tour, Lloyd Saltman closed the deal today at Hacienda del Alamo with another fine performance from the Scotsman. Lloyd fired a fine 6 under 66 today and a final total of -21 for the 54 hole event. Saltman hopes to take his current form where his next competitors ended up 13 shots behind to Dubai next week. ” I am just waiting for the call”, Dubai is a big event where a lot of top players come, but let us wait and see what happens”. “In any case it has been a great week for me here at Hacienda, the course was fantastic and it is great training for both my game and confidence for my year ahead,” commented Saltman. In joint second were Joachim Hansen of Denmark and James Hepworth of England, both who finished at -8. Saltman won the €3900.00 and the famous Thomas Sabo winners watch.

There was a 3 way tie for 4th with Carlos Balmaseda from Spain, Elliot Saltman of Scotland and Gareth Shaw of England

Lloyd still ahead in Spain

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:36:18 +0000

Lloyd Saltman followed up his first round of 65 with a spectacular round of 64. His round consisted of 6 birdies and an eagle and not a single bogey on the card. Conditions were perfect for the international field, the winds that were present yesterday vanished overnight and there were lots of birdies to be taken for the 88 players representing 16 countries here this week at the fabulous Hacienda del Alamo resort in Fuente Alamo,Spain. Saltman now enjoys a 8 shot lead going into the final round of the 54 hole event over James Busby of England who shot a fine round of 65 today. Tied in 3rd are Jamie Abbott and Gareth Shaw of England both at -5. The cut for the top 40 came in at +4.

Other notables Miguel Angel Martin par

Mark Mouland +4

Final Round play commences tomorrow at 9:00a.m.

Lloyd Saltman Opens With 65 at Hacienda Del Alamo

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:27:09 +0000

Lloyd Saltman of Scotland opened with a 65 today and leads the 2011 Hacienda del Alamo Open. Lloyd, who has recently graduated to the European Tour, shot even par 36 on the front nine, before a record breaking back nine score of 29 which included 7 birdies!
Lloyd has been a regular on the Hi5 Pro Tour the past few seasons and has used the valuable “winter tour” experience to elevate his game to the next level.
Saltman holds a four-shot lead over Elias Bertheussen of Norway, Jamie Abott of England and last week’s first-time winner Ken Benz of Switzerland, all of whom shot 69 on the 6700+ metres Dave Thomas-designed Hacienda del Alamo golf course.
Top amateur is Oddvar Hjellegjerde of Norway who shot a fine round of 70. This week features a strong field of several European Tour and Challenge Tour players keeping their games in shape for the upcoming season.
Players were faced with gusting winds,cool temperatures and extremely slick greens where only 12 players were able to shoot under par on the first day of this 54-hole event and part one of the 2011 Hi5 Pro Tour Murcia Swing.
After Round 2, the top 40 and ties will move on to the final round.
SCOTSWATCH
Although Lloyd Saltman hogged the limelight with his great round, there was also considerable interest in the performance of his older brother, Elliot who is serving a three-month suspension by the European Tour for alleged cheating (incorrectly marking his ball on the green) in a Challenge Tour event.
The European ban affects only events under the auspices of the European Tour and the Hi5 Tour is independently run.
Elliot Saltman shot a one-over-par 73 to be the second best Scot on the day.
Ian Redford and Shaun McAllister came next on 77. They are sharing 48th place.
Cackhanded John Gallagher had a 78 and former Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Doherty a horrendous 86.

FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE

Saltmans get off to flyers

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:36:48 +0000

THE Saltman siblings, Elliot and Lloyd, wasted no time making their joint presence felt on a European Tour leaderboard after firing two eagles and ten birdies between them in the opening round of the Africa Open at East London yesterday.
A month after they both won their cards at the Qualifying School in Spain, the Archerfield Links duo took pride of place amongst the Scottish contingent in the Eastern Cape, Elliot signing for a six-under-par 67 late in the day to sit just one shot off the lead, with younger brother Lloyd also in the top 10 after a 68.

Alastair Forsyth, playing in his first European Tour event since losing full playing privileges at the end of last season, also got off to a promising start with a 70, the same as David Drysdale, with Marc Warren and Scott Jamieson a further shot adrift. However, it was the performances of the two Saltmans that produced the main encouragement from a Scottish perspective on the opening day’s action on the circuit in 2011.

Both players started their rounds at the ninth, Elliot, who has still to face a European Tour hearing over his disqualification from last season’s Russian Challenge Cup, getting into his stride right from the off with a birdie that was followed by four more as well as an eagle at the third. His sole blemish was a bogey at the 14th.

Lloyd, who would have made the cut in the South African Open in Durban before Christmas had the field for the final two rounds not been cut to the top 50 due to a weather delay, also signed for an eagle and five birdies as well as two dropped shots – at the first and second holes. “It is a great start for the both of us,” said Lloyd, the Silver Medal winner in the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews. “We came here straight from a family holiday in the Canary Islands and I was a bit unwell over New Year but it’s all good now, though.”

The 25-year-old was five-under after ten holes before those back-to-back bogeys but continued a useful recent trend of showing he can recover well from such setbacks. “I holed a good 15-foot putt for my bogey at the second after chipping into a bunker and then hit back straight away with a birdie,” he added. “That’s something I’ve been doing well since the second stage of the Qualifying School.

It was the same at the final stage and also in Durban, where I was over par going out in each of my rounds but still managed to shoot under par.

“Hopefully I can keep it going – Elliot, too – as it is important to get off to a good start when you’ve secured a card at the Tour School.”

The Scotsman: 07 January 2011
By MARTIN DEMPSTER