LLOYD SALTMAN reckons he's running into form at just the right time – and aims to prove it by putting himself back on one of the biggest stages in golf.
Since winning the Silver Medal as leading amateur in the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews, Saltman has been unable to make the impact on the game that many pundits had predicted.
Now in the paid ranks, he'd had a tough time of it on the Europe
an Challenge Tour this season until giving himself a timely confidence boost when finishing just outside the top ten in Sweden last weekend.
Saltman has since moved on to Switzerland for this week's Credit Suisse Challenge but has one eye on his next challenge, the Local Final Qualifying for The Open in Ayrshire on Monday and Tuesday.
The 23-year-old is in the field at Kilmarnock (Barassie) and will be giving it his all to give himself another chance to rub shoulders with Tiger Woods, having stood alongside the world No.1 when he picked up the Claret Jug at St Andrews four years ago.
"It would mean a lot to me if I could get back into The Open, especially in Scotland again, and I'll be going to Barassie to give it a real go," said Saltman, whose big brother, Elliot, will also be among the hopefuls next week.
"It's been a frustrating year for me so far because I know what I am capable of but, unfortunately, have not been able to produce the results I am looking for.
"However, I'd rather have a fast finish to the season than start well and then fade away and, while it's been a long time coming, I was certainly encouraged by my performance in Sweden.
"I've been working hard with Colin Brooks (his coach) and, hopefully, I can kick on from here. It would be great to play in The Open again and, soon after that, we've got the Scottish Challenge up at Spey Valley, so it's a good time to hit a bit of form."
One obstacle for Saltman as far as trying to qualify for Turnberry is concerned is the fact he'll be playing Barassie 'blind'.
"I've never played there before and won't get a practice round due to the fact I'm in Switzerland," he said. "That's not ideal, I suppose, but the Local Final Qualifying is an event you have to be aggressive in and I'll certainly be giving it a real pop."
For Mark Kerr, the qualifying test will mark the latest challenge in an exhausting few weeks for the Edinburgh man.
Since teeing off in the Northern Open in Aviemore, he's been to Kent, Devon and Suffolk to play in EuroPro Tour events, Goswick for Open Regional Qualifying and Gleneagles for the Scottish PGA Championship.
"I don't think I've ever played this much golf in my life and I'd hate to think how many miles I've clocked up over the past few weeks," said Kerr. "But I'm really enjoying myself and, the way I've been playing, I honestly don't think that securing a place in The Open is out of my reach."
Kerr, who narrowly missed out when Troon staged the 2004 Open, is also in the field at Barassie, as are Murrayfield pro Jonnie Cliff and Raymond Russell, who tied for fourth behind Mark O'Meara at Birkdale just over a decade ago.
Elliot Saltman is at Glasgow Gailes along with John Gallagher and David Kirkpatrick, with Andrew Oldcorn and Dunbar's Alan Martin launching their bids at neighbouring Western Gailes.
If any of the Lothians players make it to Turnberry, they'll be guaranteed a minimum of £2,100 after it was announced by the R&A that prize-money for the event will be held at the same level as last year.
The total prize fund will be £4.2million, with the winner picking up a cheque for £750,000.
