Lloyd Saltman: A True Scottish Braveheart
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2007 Australian Amateur Championship | 27 Mar 2007
Two years ago Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman was experiencing the golfing time of his life. He’d secured the Silver Medal as the low scoring amateur at The Open at St Andrews and had made the Walker Cup team to play against the Americans the next month in Chicago.
Saltman’s five under par performance at The Open that year attracted the attention of playing partners, Bob Tway and Rich Beem, both of whom remarked of his prodigious talent. Many considered he’d go professional after the Walker Cup, the biennial contest between the very best amateurs from Great Britain & Ireland and those in the United States. He didn’t.
“At the time a lot of guys said ’why don’t you go pro?’. I felt that I was too young and inexperienced. Getting into The Open was a bonus and the way I played was just a delight. I decided to just stick to my plans, which was to turn pro at 21 and not get distracted about other issues that were happening.”
“If I turned professional too early, I think it would have been a mistake. My family supported my decision and I was still learning about playing golf and how to compete.”
His decision to remain an amateur and stay in Scotland was questioned and heavily scrutinised, mainly from the media. Saltman also turned away American scholarships at Colorado and Augusta State, preferring to remain in the UK and Europe to develop his game under the watchful eye of both his mentor and coach, Colin Brooks at Braid Hills Golf Club in Edinburgh.
“What happened in 2005 was simply a great year for me. People then started to comment that I wasn’t doing all that well last year, but I felt I was playing consistently well. I just did not achieve the same as what I did in 2005.”
Richie Ramsay’s US Amateur victory in 2006 also had the Scottish attention fraying away from Saltman, during a year where the relative disappointments only convinced him of the need to learn more about the game and his swing.
This may all change this week at the Australian Amateur Championship following Saltman’s qualification into the match play format and first round 3 & 2 win over the world’s number 1 amateur, Jamie Moul. Saltman is primed to put amends to any negative comments that he’s presently in a slump.
“The fact is I’ve been playing well lately. Even last year I had a lot of good finishes, just no spark. What’s happening this week here in Australia is giving me a real boost. I relish the opportunity to go one on one in match play and this is a course where you can be aggressive. It’s bound to be exciting.”
Saltman’s game is based around solid ball striking with his irons, a factor that’s helped him this week in the windy conditions. He’s an exciting player to watch and his shots have a great flight to them; you cannot help but think he’s the genuine article.
Besides securing the Silver Medal at the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews as leading amateur, Saltman also won in 2005 the St Andrew’s Links Championship, the Brabazon Trophy, the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship and the English Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
Listening this week at the Australian Amateur to his tales of 2005, especially at The Open, it’s obvious that Saltman savoured every minute that week at St Andrews. The tribute and advice from Tiger Woods as the pair shook hands after the presentation is as still fresh in Saltman’s mind as if it occurred yesterday.
“Talking to Tiger was a thrill. To meet him and then stand on the podium during the presentation – is something I’ll never forget. He said ’great job, keep it going’, what do you do but simply smile, the world’s best there recognising your game; it could not have been better.”
As for the future, at least one more year in the amateur ranks is a certain, the aim being to enhance his amateur CV and make the Walker Cup Team.
“The Walker Cup is everyone’s aim and for me, it’s a massive goal to get back into the team and beat the Americans on UK soil. After the experience of being part of a losing Walker Cup side in Chicago, I desperately want to be involved in a winning team.”
“This time it’s being played on a links style, similar to what we are playing this week at NSW, and we’re kind of use to it. We should have an advantage over the Americans, but they always have a great side. It’s sure to be tough and a lot will depend upon your preparation. This Australian Amateur is great preparation for us, with the wind and playing all the varying shots you have to do to score well.”
Saltman returns to the UK on Friday and will focus upon main British and European amateur events, along with some professional starts in Europe.
Irrespective of what happens with the Walker Cup later in the year in Ireland, he will turn professional. Saltman will attempt to gain his European Tour Card at Tour School in Spain, failing that, he hopes his amateur achievements will get some sponsors invitations in Europe.
American can wait for a while; for he,like so many other young players, feel they need to cut their teeth first on either European or Australasian soil.
“It’s something I’m really looking forward to doing. I’ll just focus on Europe and try and get my card. If not, I hope my amateur record might get some starts. If I win this week, I know I’ll get a start in the Australian Open and that will be a great opportunity for me to come back down here and play professionally.”
You sense the Australian Amateur Championship is to be a turning point for Saltman. A lip out on the 17th yesterday denied him from making the play off in the Stroke Play Championship with Scott Arnold and Andrew Dodt. Arnold and Dodt have since been eliminated, leaving Saltman only three matches away from the final.
Yesterday Saltman commented he relishes the one on one competition associated with match play and that he loves a good fight on a golf course. Given where he’s now placed that you can be sure it will be; but with the true fight of a Scotsman.
Photo – Anthony Powter
