Saltmans first Open brothers since Ballesteros

Published on Tuesday 7 July 2009 22:55

LLOYD and Elliot Saltman will next week become the first brothers to compete in the Open Championship since Seve and Manuel Ballesteros in 1983.

The Scots won places at Turnberry with outstanding performances at the local qualifying in Ayrshire over the past two days. Only 12 places were chased by almost 300 hopefuls – including Jose Maria Olazabal – and the Saltmans held their nerve after fine opening day scores to seal their spots with solid second rounds.

The success of the brothers means Scotland will be represented by nine professionals at Turnberry next week, an improvement on last year when only four Scots were in the Open starting field at Birkdale. Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie were exempt; David Drysdale, Richie Ramsay and Gary Orr came through International qualifying in Britain and Martin Laird took the same route in the USA.