Lloyd Saltman is the newest Scottish professional to challenge for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next week, after joining the paid ranks on his 22nd birthday, just 17 days ago.
Saltman, from Craigielaw, East Lothian, won the Silver Medal as highest placed amateur when he finished 15th in the Open Championship at St Andrews in 2005 and now returns to the Old Course for the first time in his professional career.
The enthusiastic Scottish galleries still recall how Saltman, needing a birdie at the final hole in 2005 to win the Silver Medal outright, obliged by rolling a long putt through the Valley of Sin to within two feet of the flag.
Saltman said: “St Andrews in 2005 was a great memory and a pivotal moment for me. I am delighted that I can go back there now as a professional. As a Scot there is nothing more exciting than playing the Old Course with your countrymen cheering you on and I look forward to competing around St Andrews again.”
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has been fertile ground for Scottish players since its inception in 2001. Paul Lawrie won the inaugural event, and was followed by Stephen Gallacher in 2004 and Colin Montgomerie in 2005.
All three former winners will be in the field once again, along with Andrew Coltart, Scott Drummond, Alastair Forsyth, Steven O’Hara, Gary Orr, Richie Ramsay and Sam Torrance, who won the team prize with his son, Daniel, in 2003.
Also competing will be 26 year old Marc Warren, who had his second win on The European Tour earlier this month when he captured the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles after a play-off with England’s Simon Wakefield. It followed his superb victory last year in the Scandinavian Masters in his debut season, a performance which helped him win the 2006 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.
The Scots will be joining a strong line up from the top 25 on the Official World Golf Rankings, including Ernie Els, Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Niclas Fasth, Trevor Immelman, Justin Rose and, of course, Open Champion Padraig Harrington, who will be bidding to win an unprecedented third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Also in the field are 2003 champion Lee Westwood, winner of last week's British Masters at The Belfry, and crowd-pleasers Ian Poulter, Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion, Steve Elkington, winner of the 1995 US PGA championship, and six-time major championship winner and current Ryder Cup captain, Nick Faldo.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship takes place from October 4-7 over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie, host course of this year’s Open Championship, and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.
Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be FREE at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 7. Entry for under 16s and students is free. Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates. There is free parking for spectators and a free shuttle bus service will be in operation between the courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
