Drumoig’s Connor Syme described by former Claret Jug winner Paul Lawrie as ‘hugely impressive’

Former Open champion ‘hugely impressed’ by young Fife star

Connor Syme is one of two young Scottish golfers who have the best chance to reverse a worrying trend, according to former Open champion Paul Lawrie.

With nobody in the top 100 of the world rankings for the first time since 2010, Lawrie believes the sport in this country is suffering from the lack of a Pied Piper figure.

But that doesn’t mean Lawrie thinks the talent has dried up, with Drumoig’s Syme one player who has particularly impressed him.

The Aberdonian, who played with Syme in a practice round at last year’s Open, said: “Even though we have six or seven out there who are capable, I think Connor Syme and Grant Forrest are the two who have the biggest chance.

“Connor is hugely impressive, both as a kid and as a golfer. His dad, Stuart, has done a great job on his swing. He also picks up balls on the range at Drumoig when he’s not playing so he is very grounded.

“I don’t want to just single out two, though, as there’s a few of them and I have always said that Marc Warren has so much talent and it’s the same with Stevie Gallacher. It’s not for the lack of trying, though, that they aren’t higher up the rankings.

“They are as disappointed as everyone else that they are not in the top 100.”

Lawrie added: “My take on it that it is just one of those periods where we haven’t got anyone for the players to chase after.

“Take Monty when he was doing well. Myself and Stevie Gallacher wanted to do what he was doing and I think that sort of things spurs people on.

“We haven’t got anyone out there at the minute acting as a role model. You really need five or six in that position, but even one would be good.

“Look at what happened in Irish golf after Padraig Harrington when he won his three majors in quick succession. It had a massive effect on other players.

“Stevie Gallacher said he pretty much got into the Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles due to me having been in the Medinah team two years earlier. If the roles had been reversed, I would have felt exactly the same.

“We just don’t have that at the minute and I think that is really killing us. I think all the players out there at the moment are capable of being in the top 100 and a few really should be in the top 50.

“At the moment, though, that’s not the case and it’s sad as we want players up there doing well.”

Picture: Getty. Connor Syme – pictured on the tee during the recent Omega Dubai Desert Classic – has a big fan in Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie.

Paul Lawrie believes golf in Scotland is lacking an influential figure – but believes Connor Syme can eventually fill that role.