Latest news with #JoakimLagergren
Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Syme seals first DP World Tour title at KLM Open, hails caddie's role in breakthrough
Scotland's Connor Syme finally tasted victory on the DP World Tour, securing his first title at the 2025 KLM Open with a composed final round at The International, and credited his caddie for instilling the belief that a win was within reach. In his 182nd career start, the 29-year-old from Drumoig held off a determined challenge from Sweden's Joakim Lagergren, finishing two shots clear after a head-to-head battle that lasted all afternoon. With the rest of the field trailing behind, it quickly became a two-man duel - Syme never looked rattled. Syme acknowledged the crucial role his team played, singling out caddie Ryan McGuigan for reinforcing the belief that victory was possible. 'It's an unbelievable feeling,' an emotional Syme said. 'The past few days were really tough, but I felt different this week—calmer, more ready. Ryan's (McGuigan) been huge for me, always reminding me that I've won before, even if not at this level.' Syme began the final round with a two-stroke lead over Lagergren, and while Italian Francesco Laporta rounded out the final group, the real drama was between the Scot and the Swede. Early Move Syme made an early statement with a birdie at the second, his wedge shot nestling four feet from the cup. Lagergren kept the pressure on, holing a long birdie putt at the seventh, but a slip-up in the sand at the ninth handed the advantage back to Syme. After trading birdies on the 13th, Syme dropped his first shot in 33 holes at the 14th - a rare misstep that cut his lead to two. But he quickly steadied the ship. When Lagergren failed to save par at the 15th, Syme missed a birdie putt but regained his three-stroke cushion. Even as Lagergren unleashed a late eagle on the 18th, it was too little, too late. Syme calmly navigated the closing stretch with smart shot choices and nerveless putting, tapping in for par on the last to seal a career-defining win at nine under par. He joins a prestigious group of Scots who have triumphed at the KLM Open, including Colin Montgomerie and Gordon Brand Jr. South Africa's Jayden Schaper claimed solo third with a final-round 69, while Scots Ewen Ferguson and Richie Ramsay shared fourth alongside England's Jack Senior. Ferguson lit up the course with an ace on the seventh, finishing with a sizzling 67. Laporta faded late with trouble at the 18th, while last week's winner Nicolai von Dellingshausen finished among a cluster at two under, joined by Jorge Campillo, Manuel Elvira, Andy Sullivan, and Dan Bradbury. Emotional Victory An emotional Syme credited his team, particularly his caddie Ryan McGuigan, for helping him believe a win was within reach. He also acknowledged the impact of his formative years and his time on developmental tours, where he built the confidence that ultimately carried him over the finish line. 'There's so much talent coming through now,' he added. 'To get my name on the list of first-time winners this season is just amazing.'
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Connor Syme wins first DP World Tour title with KLM Open
The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. He said: 'Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days. 'I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it.' Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson – who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth – and England's Richard Mansell. Read more: 'It's so, so nice they stuck around,' said Syme. 'I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing.' Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Syme leads KLM Open by two after brilliant third round
Connor Syme leads the KLM Open in Amsterdam on 10 under par [Getty Images] KLM Open third round leaderboard -10 C Syme (Sco); -8 J Lagergren (Swe); -4 R Gouveia (Por), F Laporta (Ita), R Ramsay (Sco); -3 R Cabrebra-Bello (Esp), F Zanotti (Par) Full leaderboard Connor Syme holds a two-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round of KLM Open golf at The International in Amsterdam. The Scot, 29, carded a five-under-par 65 on Saturday to climb to the top of the leaderboard on 10 under. Advertisement Syme eagled the par-five third, before picking up a further three shots on an impressive back nine. Sweden's Joakim Lagergren is his closest challenger two shots back, with Syme's compatriot Richie Ramsay one of three players next best placed on four under. The Kirkcaldy-born golfer has one tournament victory since turning professional in 2017, coming in the 2019 Turkish Airlines Challenge. Final-round play at the DP World Tour event begins at 07:00 BST, with Syme due to tee off at 09:09.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dutch delight for Scotsman on moving day
Scotland's Connor Syme will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the DP World Tour's KLM Open in Amsterdam after a superb bogey-free 66. The 29-year-old holed a 40-foot eagle putt at the third on Saturday and added three birdies on his back nine, including at the final two holes, to overhaul Sweden's Joakim Lagergren (71) at the top. For the third day in succession the weather forced long delays to the event, with the course waterlogged in places during the morning as the final few players wrapped up a second round delayed by high winds. Syme navigated the conditions perfectly and admitted he was "buzzing" after his round. "Obviously a bonus to finish with a couple (of birdies) towards the end but overall really, really pleased," he added. .@connor_syme will take a two-shot lead into the final round in Amsterdam 💪#KLMOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 7, 2025 Compatriot Richie Ramsay (71) finished the round in a share of third place with Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia (73) and Italian Francesco Laporta (69), six shots off the lead and four behind Lagergren. "Obviously there's a bit of a gap at the moment for me and Joakim but with the weather tomorrow it can change so much, so quickly," Syme said. "I would love to do it, hopefully I can play my game tomorrow and I can do it. I'll just try to play one shot at a time and get that mindset from the start, and what will be will be." Australia's Jason Scrivener (69) is in a nine-way tie for 13th at one under after a steady round including just three birdies and one bogey. With AAP.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Syme leads KLM Open by two after brilliant third round
KLM Open third round leaderboard-10 C Syme (Sco); -8 J Lagergren (Swe); -4 R Gouveia (Por), F Laporta (Ita), R Ramsay (Sco); -3 R Cabrebra-Bello (Esp), F Zanotti (Par)Selected others-1 A Sullivan (Eng), G Forrest (Sco); E N Kimsey (Eng); +1 E Ferguson (Sco), G Gavin (US); +2 N Colsaerts (Bel), M Armitage (Eng); +5 F Molinari (Ita)Full leaderboardConnor Syme holds a two-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round of KLM Open golf at The International in Scot, 29, carded a five-under-par 65 on Saturday to climb to the top of the leaderboard on 10 eagled the par-five third, before picking up a further three shots on an impressive back Joakim Lagergren is his closest challenger two shots back, with Syme's compatriot Richie Ramsay one of three players next best placed on four Kirkcaldy-born golfer has one tournament victory since turning professional in 2017, coming in the 2019 Turkish Airlines play at the DP World Tour event begins at 07:00 BST, with Syme due to tee off at 09:09.
