Connor Syme delighted to book his place at ‘special’ US Open

To a large extent the 25-year-old got exactly what he wanted from the opening five tournaments; his work is done.

At last weekend’s ISPS HANDA Wales Open, Connor, like he had the week before at the Celtic Classic, found himself at the top of the leaderboard going into Sunday’s final round.

Sadly he came up just short of securing his maiden European Tour win.

But that let down was tempered by confirmation that his efforts in the opening five events of the swing saw him finish inside the top 10 of its mini Order of Merit to book a place at September’s US Open.

It’ll be the Drumoig aces’s first crack at that Major, being played this year at Winged Foot Golf Club in suburban New York from September 17-20.

Despite missing out on his first win during the UK Swing, Connor was able to draw on the positives.

He said: “Obviously I’m bitterly disappointed, it was a really poor final five or six holes for me, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

“That will be special, to be at the US Open.

“That was certainly a goal for these UK Swing events, to try and qualify.

“So obviously I’m delighted to have achieved that.

“The goal was to try not to think about that and just try win the golf tournament.

“But unfortunately I just didn’t quite have it and made a few wrong decisions.

“But that’s golf and there’ll be a next time.”

Connor ended up having to share eighth place at the Wales Open, carding four rounds of 66, 70, 70, 75.

Joining him in eighth was Kinross golfer Calum Hill.

After a steady opening two rounds of 73 and 71, Calum grew into the competition over the weekend, scoring 68 on Saturday and 69 a day later.

Calum is competing at this weekend’s event, the UK Championship, which teed off on Thursday morning.

The event is the last on a swing which has helped competitive golf return succesfuly for the European Tour.

Next week the tour heads to Spain for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters,

Chloe Goadby, from St Andrews, is also back out competing this week, playing the The Womens Amateur Championship at West Lancashire Golf Club.

Chloe negotiated the first part on the event, a regular strokeplay format, to qualify for matchplay on Thursday morning.