Syme still in the hunt for place at US Open

Fifer Connor Syme’s battle for a place in the US Open comes to a head at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, with four spots at Winged Foot next month still up for grabs.

With traditional qualifying events cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the USGA made 10 places in the US Open available to the top points earners from the first five events of the European Tour’s UK Swing.

Four of those places remain open and, with 335 points available to the winner, every player in the field this week retains a chance.

Syme held the 54-hole lead in the Celtic Classic and went on to finish third after a closing 71 compiled either side of a twohour delay due to the threat of lightning.

The 25-year-old said: “My goal is to get in that top 10 for the US Open. It’s given me a step towards that. It hurt for a couple of days, but it’s a good week.

“If someone offers you third at the start of the week, no matter the circumstances, you’ll take it. I’ll build on that and hopefully have a good week on the same course.”

England’s Sam Horsfield made certain of his place by winning both the Hero Open and last week’s Celtic Classic, the first of back-to-back events held at 2010 Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor.

The 23-year-old holds a big lead in the standings over Belgium’s Thomas Detry, who finished runner-up to Horsfield twice in the space of three weeks.

Detry is also assured of a berth at Winged Foot along with English Championship winner Andy Sullivan, Rasmus Hojgaard and British Masters champion Renato Paratore, while Spain’s Adrian Otaegui is unlikely to be knocked out of the top 10.

Justin Harding, Alexander Bjork, Syme, Chris Paisley and Andrew Johnston make up the top 10, with Paisley and Johnston joint 10th on 125.80 points.

Connor Syme says his goal is a US Open spot.