No Saudi tour spot for Connor

Connor Syme of Scotland tees off two during day one of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

The tour stops off in Saudi Arabia for the Saudi International having departed from the United Arab Emirates after back to back events there.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, followed by the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, teed off the new season.

Calum, from Kinross, played in the opener but had to sit it out last week while Connor, who didn’t compete in the first event, was handed an invite for the second tournament, which was won by England’s Paul Casey.

But there was disappointment for the Drumoig 25-year-old who found himself missing the cut and failing to make the weekend.

An opening round of 72 gave Connor a chance of getting through to Saturday but those hopes were dashed by a 78 on Friday.

It meant he was some way adrift of the cut mark and ended in a tie for 111th place.

Someone who did find themselves involved in the thick of the action come Sunday afternoon was Lundin Links caddy Mike Thomson.

Mike, a member at Lundin Golf Club, was on the bag for Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

MacIntyre, from Oban, was in contention to win the tournament going into the final day’s play.

But both he and the north east Fife caddy found Englishman Casey in no mood to give up his grip on his lead and he closed out victory by four shots.

To make this week’s event in Saudi Arabia, Connor was relying on a raft of pull outs, sitting some way down the reserve list.

On that list he was joined by Calum, but his tour status saw him sit a few places higher.

And that worked in his favour, with a few pull-outs opening up a spot for the 26-year-old.

This week’s Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers marks the final event of this year’s Desert Swing, boasting an impressive field that includes 13 Major champions and four of the world’s top ten.

One of those is world number one Dustin Johnson, who won the event in 2019.

He is joined by defending champion and fellow major winner Graeme McDowell, who defeated Johnson by two shots to win last year’s title.

After this week’s event the tour breaks off until March.