John Gallagher in Open group with Zack Saltman

JOHN Gallagher, who reported Elliot Saltman to the police after a confrontation between the pair in a golf club car park a fortnight ago, has been paired with the European Tour player's youngest brother, Zack, in the forthcoming Open Championship regional qualifiers.

R&A officials have pitted the two players in the same group for the event at Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh on Monday week, despite the incident at an Optical Express Pro Golf Tour event at Hilton Park that is currently being investigated by Strathclyde Police.

Saltman, who recently served a three-month ban after being found guilty of cheating during a Challenge Tour event last year, was caddying for his brother in the final round of the tournament and it is believed words were exchanged between him and Gallagher, who is understood to have claimed he was threatened.

Now both Gallagher and the youngest of the Saltman siblings could face an uncomfortable time as they bid to move a step closer to a place in this year's Open line-up at Sandwich.