Syme earns right to tee up with best in world

Young Fifer secures full-time place at first attempt

Connor Syme completed a momentous two months as a professional by securing his right to play full-time on the European Tour at the first attempt at the Qualifying School final in Spain.

The 22-year-old from Drumoig, who turned pro after playing for Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup in Los Angeles in September, cruised through the sixth and final round of the Q School final to finish in ninth place, well within the top 25 places needed to be sure of a playing card for the 2018 Race to Dubai season.

His two-under 69 on the Lakes Course at Lumine Golf Club near Tarragona meant he finished with a six-round 17-under total of 441, five strokes clear of the cut mark of the 33 players who finished the marathon qualifying test by winning their cards.

“It’s been an amazing day and I’m absolutely delighted to earn full status on the European Tour,” he said afterwards.

“It’s been a brilliant week. The last few rounds have been awesome so I’m delighted with it.

“When you think about the fact I was playing Walker Cup two months ago . . . It’s been an amazing few weeks, so I’m absolutely delighted to have the opportunity now to test myself against the best players in the world.”

It was rounds three, four and five at Lumine that effectively booked Connor’s passage through Q School, a 63 and two 67s putting him comfortably inside the qualifying mark going into the last round.

His 69 on the final day contained a double bogey six on the 15th, but five birdies before that had already all but assured he was going to be successful at his first attempt on Q School.

The son of former PGA Scotland captain Stuart Syme already has three cuts made in three events since turning pro, with top 15 finishes at the Portugal Masters and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Those starts came on invitations after he signed with One Direction star and golf nut Niall Horan’s new Modest! Management company on opting to turn professional after the Walker Cup, and it happily coincided with his best form of the season.

He is the second young Scot to have won a tour card in the space of three weeks, following Bradley Neil’s success in qualifying from the Challenge Tour Grand Final.

There’s hardly time for either to draw breath before the new season begins. Neil, from Blairgowrie, is already in the UBS Hong Kong Open next week, while Syme is 10th reserve at that event.

The Fifer could make his debut as a full-time Tour player in the Australia PGA Championship at the Royal Pines Resort in Gold Coast, Queensland, in just under two weeks.

Down Under was where Connor had the biggest win of his amateur career and one which first launched him high in the world rankings, when he won the Australian Amateur Championship in January 2016.

Syme’s Walker Cup team-mate Robert MacIntyre fell short of joining him with a full card but pronounced himself pleased with his performance and securing a full Challenge Tour card for the 2018 season.

The 21-year-old left-hander shot a level par 71 in the final round and although he did not shoot over par in any of the six rounds at the Q School Final, his 11-under total was two shots too many.

Aberdeen’s David Law was one shot worse off on 10-under, while Scott Henry, who came through Q School last year but had to return, finished on eightunder.

I’m delighted to have the opportunity now to test myself against the best players in the world. CONNOR SYME

Picture: Kris Miller. Connor Syme cruised through the sixth and final round of the Q School final to finish in ninth and earn a playing card for the 2018 Race to Dubai season.