Connor is aiming to shake it up for real as Euro golf returns

Connor Syme was the King of Virtual Golf during lockdown. Now it’s time to deliver when the real thing resumes this week.

Syme won at Royal Portrush and Valderrama – from the comfort of his back garden – as part of the European Tour’s series of virtual events for charity.

But he will be back with a card and pencil in his hand when he tees it up at the Austrian Open on Thursday when lockdown is lifted at last.

While the British Masters signals the full resumption oftour golf on July 22, this is the first of two co-sanctioned events in Austria involving the European Tour and the Challenge Tour.

So with the decorating done at his new home and the garden in good shape, Connor wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity.

“I can’t wait. It’s been a long time,” he told The Sunday Post.

“It was an amazing length of time to be off. But when you try to recharge your batteries, it brings back that excitement.

“When people in England came back to golf, it felt like things were taking forever in Scotland. But it has been great to be back on the course.

“I have been watching the PGA Tour on TV in the last few weeks, and you keep thinking: ‘When is it my turn?’.

“It’s the same feeling I had when I was watching as a 15-year-old kid, getting that buzz to go out and play.”

The 24- year- old from Fife enjoyed his first competitive on-course golf last Monday, when he played in a Clutch Tour event at Hollinwell in Nottinghamshire – a tour created this year to give opportunities to male and female pros in the UK.

And the feeling of keeping an eye on the leaderboard was a good warm- up as he competed against former Ryder Cup players like Andy Sullivan and Jamie Donaldson over 18 holes.

It was all very different from his golfing experience in lockdown where, using Trackman technology, he virtually conquered two of Europe’s finest courses, and raised more than £10,000 for charity in the BMW Indoor Invitational Series.

“It was a great initiative by the European Tour,” enthused the Scot. “By the end, there were about 60 guys playing.

“Me and Will Besseling from the Netherlands seemed to be sharing out the wins. Although it was hitting into a net, it still felt competitive.

“I would do it on Monday or Tuesday, but I didn’t find out until the Friday if I had won, which was cool.

“It was an honour to win and to help out my two charities – Food Train in Dundee and Hospice of the Valleys.

“The only problem is it didn’t help my golf too much when I got back on the course!”

Syme is back on the European Tour this season after his graduation from the Challenge Tour, and he was in a respectable 61st on the Race to Dubai with a couple of top-10s under his belt when golf ground to a halt back in March.

The Tour have guaranteed all membership for next season, while there are 10 places on offer for the US Open in September for the best performers on the six-week UK swing, beginning at the British Masters.

So as golf begins to get back to normal, Syme knows there are lots to gain.

“There is none of that worry about trying to keep your card, so guys can compete freely,” said Syme, who is represented by former One Direction singer-turned Modest! Golf management founder, Niall Horan.

“Everyone is in the same boat and there won’t be any of the same pressure. There should be more risk shots taken on because everyone will be focusing on winning, and that will be cool to watch.

“For this season, it wouldn’t be right to put pressure on players to keep their card. This rewards the members, and I think that’s fair.

“But there are plenty of things to play for. An Order of Merit for the UK swing, US Open spots – which is amazing – and the Race to Dubai.

“So, in the circumstances, the European Tour have done the best they can for everyone.”

■ Matthew Wolff will take a three-shot advantage into today’s final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

21- year- old Wolff, chasing a second PGA Tour title, fired a third-round eightunder-par 64 to lead the way at 19-under.

His nearest challengers are Ryan Armour and Bryson Dechambeau on 16-under.

England’s Matt Wallace is three shots further back in a tie for eighth place.