Monday, July 13, 2009

SALTMANS HOPING TO SHINE

SALTMANS HOPING TO SHINE


Lloyd Saltman normally has elder brother Elliot looking after him - but this week the tables are turned at the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry.

EuroPro Tour player Elliot, 27, is competing in his very first high-profile event, having come through local final qualifying at Gailes Links in Glasgow last week.

Lloyd qualified in similar circumstances, albeit it at Kilmarnock (Barassie), but he has the advantage of having played in the major before.

In 2005 he finished joint 15th to win the Silver Medal at St Andrews as the leading amateur so he is well placed to pass on some tips to his elder brother.

And there will be plenty of time to do that as they are both staying in the same house close to the course with the rest of the family.

"Elliot and I live together now and I'm used to Elliot looking after me, doing my washing and ironing and all that," said 23-year-old Lloyd.

"But he's got a back seat this week because mum is going to do it, so that's all right."

Lloyd and Elliot are the first siblings to play in the Open since Jumbo and Joe Ozaki in 1992 and they will be joined by youngest brother Zack, who missed out by one shot at regional qualifying but will be carrying Elliot's bag this week.

"We're a close family and we were all together in 2005 at the Open, I don't think we'd have it any other way," added Lloyd.

"We like to be together and share our experiences -

2005 was a great experience for me and really set me up to where I am now.

"I've used as much of that as I can and hopefully it will help me this week."

Elliot admits his brother's performance at St Andrews was an inspiration to him.

"I saw, from outside the ropes, what Lloyd was experiencing," he said.

"It made me work harder to see my brother doing so well, I wanted to get into the same position.

"Four years down the line it's all paid off and here I am."

Despite Zack being caddy for Elliot this week he could not hide his disappointment at not making it a Saltman hat-trick.

"To see them both here is great and I feel I let them down a little bit. But there's plenty of years to come."