Birthday boy and getting married – why Connor Syme wants to make it a triple celebration
Connor Syme’s Triple Celebration Dream: Birthday, Wedding, and the 152nd Open
Connor Syme, who just celebrated his 29th birthday on Thursday, is on the brink of a monumental moment in his life. With his wedding day fast approaching, Syme is hoping to add another cause for celebration by securing a spot in the 152nd Open at Royal Troon next week.
This week’s Genesis Scottish Open offers a golden opportunity, with three spots in the season’s final major up for grabs. For players like Syme, this event is particularly crucial since more than half the field for this Rolex Series event has already secured exemptions for The Open.
“You’re absolutely right,” Syme remarked after starting strong with a two-under-par 68 amidst challenging morning conditions on the East Lothian coast. Reflecting on the unique opportunity presented by the number of already-exempt players, he added, “Obviously, it’s way different to the other opportunities we’ve had leading up to this, and it would be awesome. But I’m just trying to do my thing. We chatted about it a bit the other day and, for now, I’m just trying to play the Scottish Open.”
Among the exempt players for next week are Bob MacIntyre, Ewen Ferguson, Jack McDonald, and amateur Calum Scott. MacIntyre kicked off with an impressive 67, which was later matched by local player Grant Forrest.
Richie Ramsay, who also carded a two-under alongside Syme, has his sights set on The Open as well, aiming for his ninth appearance in the Claret Jug event after competing at Royal Liverpool last year. “I was all over the place after Germany last week and was struggling a bit,” admitted Ramsay, a four-time DP World Tour winner. “But we got working a bit on the range and then on Wednesday I found something similar to what I had in Switzerland last year and just kind of ground it out.”
Ramsay shared that a slight adjustment in his shoulder movement during a Wednesday practice session yielded exceptional results. “It was one of the best I’ve had. I could flight it, strike it, do exactly what I wanted to do. I took that confidence into today. I know where I am in my career and I’m up against guys who have 180 mph ball speed. It’s tough. But I played my own game today and stuck in there. I relish that challenge though. I feel like when you play with these players, you get pulled up to their standard. I used to go to the Scottish Open at Gleneagles to watch. This feels like a really big event. It’s where you want to be.”
Syme echoed Ramsay’s sentiments about the event’s atmosphere. “The crowds were huge today. Yeah, it was quality. I think it must have been Bob and Rory’s game when we were playing down the fifth, and I was like, how many people is that? It’s so, so cool to see. I think people are starting to enjoy the venue. It’s a great place, great location, and, yeah, we’re lucky to be here. So it’s cool to see people out watching.”
Other Scottish players had mixed results. Scott Jamieson and Calum Hill both carded 69s, David Law finished with a 72, and Ewen Ferguson, last week’s BMW International Open winner in Munich, struggled with a 73 while playing alongside major winners Jordan Spieth and Matt Fitzpatrick.
For Syme, the Genesis Scottish Open is more than just a tournament—it’s a chance to turn a special time in his life into an unforgettable trifecta of celebrations.
