Connor Syme’s debut at the Us Open finished with a 10-over total after a second successive 75, but his Friday round in the tougher set-up of Winged Foot was definitely better than his first.
The Drumoig player, in his third major and first in the US, left his opening round unfinished on the final tee due to darkness but completed the 75 yesterday and then shot another five-over score in the tightened and toughened course.
“It was just as tough as I expected,” he said. “I just didn’t drive it anywhere near well enough on Thursday, and then in the second round I actually played well but putted really, really poorly on both days.
“I think I made one putt outside five feet, that was it, so it was my weakness for sure.
“On a couple of days where you’re going to be out of position a few times, you’re going to have to make some putts, and I actually just didn’t hole anything.”
These were more challenging greens than he’s accustomed to in Europe, but it’s still going to be something he works on, he added.
“I’ll go away and work on that, that’s mu big takeaway from the last two days,” he said. “It’s beem something to learn from definitely, and that’s all I’m trying to do all the time; if I’ve not played well, learn and try and get better for next time.”
Connor is all in on the next stretch back in Europe, returning to play in the Irish Open, hopefully the Scottish Open the week after, a chance of Wentworth and the Scottish Championship close to home at Fairmont St Andrews coming up straight after.
“There’s a big few events in a row leading to the end of the season, and it’s a tough stretch, but we’ve just got to knuckle down and get on,” he said. “It’s non-stop, but we had a lot of time off, and it’s just great to have a chance to play and compete.”
