Connor Syme was the best of the Scots posting a 68, thanks to four birdies over his closing nine holes, to share sixth place on 15-under-par on the final day of the RAK Golf Classic at Al Hamra.
Syme’s effort was a best result in some 12 months leaving him delighted ahead of returning home to Fife.
“I’m pretty pleased to finish top-10 as I had a really good last 10 holes but after pars at one and two, I hit it right into water on three and made ‘6’, and I was right up against it”, he said
“Though it was nice to play the closing nine in four-under, so overall pleased. Playing here for the two weeks it’s all been about making birdies, and while the course has been set-up fair unless you were making birdies you definitely were moving backward, for sure.
“So, it definitely helped me to make a few more birdies at the end.
Scotland’s Connor Syme
“Also, looking at the scores here at Al Hamra for the two weeks it’s been a pretty good standard by most who’ve tee-up, and there are areas around the front of the greens on so many holes where you can putt from off the green and, I feel, that is probably the reason why there have been so many birdies”.
Syme’s strong Sunday showing is his best finish since a share of fifth last April at the Grand Canaria Open.
Like the greater majority of DP World Tour players it is now three weeks, and due in part to there being no Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, before a next event and the March 3rd starting Magical Kenya Open.
“I’ll be heading home to continue working on my game, as there is always things you need to be working on and even the guys that are winning with be thinking they have stuff they want to get better at”, said.
“Golf is always work in progress and this result is certainly a step in the right direction for me. The good aspect of my game is my putting as I definitely much better these second two weeks than the first, and I kind of freed-up a bit more and that was the difference.
“So, it’s a couple of weeks at home and then I will head off to play the Kenya Opena and the two in South Africa. I’ve been to South Africa before and while I am not too sure of the venues, I’ve been to South Africa many times so it shouldn’t be too unfamiliar.
“The great thing all the Scots out have been playing well this new season and we all seem to be feeding off each other. Jameo (Scott Jamieson) has been playing really well and we all try to push each other on”.
Speaking of Jamieson he finished tied ninth with Robert MacIntyre to secure a second top-10 in four starts for the Florida-based Scot.
Peebles Craig Howie also headed home making it two pay cheques from as many events in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah with a share of 21st last week and shooting a final round 68 tie for 30th in the RAK Classic, though with the Tour rookie revealing he, and like MacIntyre, cracked his driver.
“It was nice to birdie the last and overall it was a pretty solid week, though I had a couple of mishaps on Friday when my driver cracked, so I had to overcome that, but pleased with the four days”, he said.
“I had a back-up head for the driver but then there is a reason it is a back-up head and not a playing head (smiling). So, I struggled on Friday and Saturday to get the right set-up but then today was a lot better.
“So, heading home pretty pleased with my game though I’ll be continuing to improve and get myself ready for Kenya and the two events in South Africa”.
