I have the game to add US Amateur title

The event is one of the biggest in the amateur season and was last year won by Bryson DeChambeau who has already started making waves in the pro-game, finishing in a tie for 21st at the Masters and 15th at the US Open.

His performances set a standard, and proves the quality in the field at the competition, being played at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan.

Drumoig golfer Syme will be mixing it with the best of his peers, but having already won the Australian Amateur Championship at the turn of the year, knows he has the game to win.

“Winning the Australian Amateur was a really big start to the season for me,” he said.

“It was a massive event and has a lot of world ranking points.

“It has the best field so to come out on top in it just gives you so much confidence and showed that I can get the job done in those kind of events.”

His win turned heads, but as the attention focused on him, Syme proved it was no fluke.

His victory acted as a catalyst for the golfer to kick on and quality performances at the South African Stroke Play and Scottish Amateur Championship, amongst others, followed.

His high finishes over the spring and summer helped him surge up the World Amateur Golf rankings to a place comfortably inside the top 50 leading to the invitation for the US Amateur.

“This was the aim at the start of the season, to get inside the top 50 and qualify,” he said.

“It’s great that I’ve been able to do that and I’m really looking forward to the US Amateur and playing there.”

But his preparation for the tournament was almost completely blown last week.

Syme, along with the rest of the top Scottish amateur contingent, headed to Estonia to compete at the European Amateur Championships.

After they arrived in Tallinn, the players were told their clubs had been lost at Amsterdam Airport.

They all pulled out and were on the verge of stepping on the plane back to Scotland when eventually were told the clubs and other equipment were on their way.

After some negotiation with the organisers, the Scots were able to compete.

“We were told our clubs were on their way and luckily the competition had a weather delay,” said Syme.

“But even up until 15 minutes before we teed off we didn’t know if we’d be allowed to take part.

“It was Ewen Ferguson’s dad who got us back in.

“He looked the rules up and there was nothing to say that we couldn’t play if the first day hadn’t been completed.

“So three of us started on the first nine and three of us on the back.

“I was playing in my trainers and the first round was a bit like a practice.”

Despite the disruption, Syme finished in fifth place.