DISQUALIFICATION PROBE: TUESDAY D-DAY FOR ELLIOT SALTMAN

FROM THE HERALDSCOTLAND.COM WEBSITE
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport
By Nick Rodger
Elliot Saltman begins his challenge in the Joburg Open in South Africa today in the knowledge that his European Tour future should finally be decided next week.
The 28-year-old will tee-up at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington aiming to build on his 23rd place finish in last weekend’s Africa Open, but he will also be striving to put the forthcoming meeting with a players’ committee in Abu Dhabi to the back of his mind.
After months of dithering, a hearing to determine what further action, if any, will be taken against Saltman, for the alleged offence of incorrectly marking his ball during a Challenge Tour event last season, will be held in the Middle East on Tuesday.
Saltman was disqualified from the Russian Challenge Cup last September after the incident was reported by his playing partners, but the controversy has rumbled on and reached a peak when the Archerfield player earned his European Tour card at December’s qualifying school.
“I’d asked for this meeting to be held before Christmas, but because of the weather I couldn’t travel down to London,” said Saltman, whose trip to Abu Dhabi will be covered by the tour. “Now this is my chance to put the record straight. It needs to be sorted out, because it’s been a hindrance to me. I just want to get on with doing what I do best, which is playing golf.
“I had my punishment at the time and I thought that would be the end of it, so it has been bothering me. I just want it all straightened out so I can move on.”