Lawrie: Give Connor the space to succeed

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie does not want to see too much pressure heaped on Connor Syme in the wake of his second-place finish in a European Tour event last week.

Syme, 22, will be hoping to take his Shot Clock Masters form into the Scottish Par 3 Championship at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre’s Devenick Course this weekend.

Lawrie, who will also be taking part in the tournament, said he’s been impressed by the Drumoig man’s form in his first season on tour but doesn’t want to get carried away.

He said: “I understand that he’s a good news story, and to finish second in Austria was a great week for him, but we’ve got to be careful not to put too much pressure on young guys who have only been pro for a matter of months.

“He’s a great prospect but we don’t want the whole nation thinking he’s got to be the guy to lift us out of our mini-gloom.

“Let’s just let him find his feet, but he is a proper player.”

Lawrie added: “It’s nice to hear people talking about how hard he works.

“He’s got the world at his feet but he knows how hard it is going to be to break through and become a regular winner on the tour.

“But he’s got the tools, the temperament and the work ethic, now it’s down to him.”

The former Open champion is teeing off today more in hope than expectation after struggling through niggling injuries this season.

The 48-year-old Aberdonian said: “I’ve not played since (the Hassan Trophy in) Morocco in April. I’ve hardly hit balls. My foot has been a little better but I’m really struggling with my back. It has been dire. It’s the worst spell I’ve had.

“Even when I’ve been injured in the past, it has been a couple of weeks and I’ve been back hitting balls but this time it has been nothing for six weeks, so playing in the wind on day one could be a testing comeback for me.”

The Scottish Golf R&A 9-Hole Championship takes place at Milnathort today and tomorrow.

The 270 players are competing for the top two spots on each of the final days to win the opportunity of a lifetime of playing at Carnoustie in The R&A’s 9-Hole Championship days before The 147th Open Championship in July.