It was a teary-eyed Connor Syme finally soaring high, supergbly earning a long overdue celebration toast with a maiden Tour triumph in strong windy conditions at the KLM Open.
Syme shone brightly quietly three-putting the last in a round of 70 to win by two shots at 11-under and with that ending a long 182 tournament winless drought on the host The International course located on the northern edge of the famed Schipol Airport.
The 29-year-old Fifer becomes the 30th individual Scottish-born winner in 160 Scottish victories in this the 53rd anniversary season of the DP World Tour.
Syme now joins fellow Scots Colin Montgomerie (1993), Stephen McAllister (1990), Gordon Brand Jnr (1987), Ken Brown (1983), Brian Barnes (1974) and Jimmy Adams (1949) as winners of the premier Dutch event that was first played in 1912.
Syme, who was surprised by wife Alanis who had jetted over to Amsterdam, also is a second Tartan golfer to win this year on the DP World Tour after Calum Hill captured the Joburg Open in March.
TEARY-EYED @connor_syme @modestgolfa FINALL @DPWorldTour CHAMPION …
Connor also becomes the 30th -born to on the Tour & the 8th first-time this year.
Read: https://t.co/pD0M5kWBKm
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/SPMGOhC8SH
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) June 8, 2025
Syme said: “Unbelievable. It was so, so difficult the last few days. I’m so, so happy and I am just so excited that I finally managed to win”.
Among those also first to congratulate Syme was good friend and fellow Modest Golf management stable-mate Ewen Ferguson along with compatriot Richie Ramsay plus England’s Richard Mansell.
Syme said: “Every member of my team is so important and to have them present was fantastic
“I was out there today remembering all the kinds of shots I used to play as a kid. I am just really buzzing at present.
“Also, there was my caddy Ryan (McGuiggan), as well and honestly, I am just overjoyed.
“It’s so, so nice everyone stuck around and while I have always been so happy for them, I am really pleased I have now joined them and now won myself. It’s just amazing”.
Syme is also remarkably an eight first-time winner on this year’s DP World Tour.
THRILLED FOR CONNOR @connor_syme @modestgolf capturing #KLMOpen
Always has been a great delight to work with & trust this long overdue maiden Tour now leads to many more wins
Must read: https://t.co/pD0M5kW3UO
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/dZ3RdNaXmi
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) June 8, 2025
Of course, a first victory for Syme comes after a handful of agonising events when he led going into the final round but was not rewarded with a win while there was also the scenario of back-to-back second place finished mid the mid-2022 season. One of those was the 2022 ISPS World Invitational in Northern Ireland, finishing runner-up to Ferguson.
It was just wonderful to see the now three-time winning Ferguson there at the side of the KLM Open final green clutching a bottle champers before celebrating with a champagne shower over Syme.
Ferguson had earlier celebrated also a maiden Tour ace when his tee shot at the par-3 seventh hole took one bounce and disappeared into the cup for the Dubai-based Scot to win 750 Dutch made ‘stroopwafels’. Read this story: http://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2025/06/ferguson-chuffed-to-secure-maiden-tour-ace-750-stoopwafels-final-round-klm-open/
Syme could have felt very much at home over the four days given the rain delays while there was early light drizzle the last day before giving way to very strong winds on the Dutch course.
It was not till 8.30pm local time Saturday when the third round ended with Syme having holed a superb birdie at the last to retain his two-shot lead at 10-under.
The threat of further poor weather meant an early Sunday 10am start for Syme and he wasted little time rolling in a four-footer for birdie at the second to move three shots clear at 11-under.
He then produced 10 straight pars before a birdie at the 13th before the only bogey over his closing two rounds at the 14th ahead of four closing pars.
Swede Joakim Lagergren birdied the last in a 70 to second on nine-under with Ferguson (67) and Ramsay (72) sharing fourth place in one of the best Scottish finishes for some time.
CONNOR SYME BIO
Age – 29
DP World Tour (DPWT) debut – Missed Cut, 2017 Joburg Open
DP World Tour events played – 182
Prior best DPWT results – 2nd 2018 Shot Clock Masters, 2nd 2020 Cazoo Open, T 2nd 2020 ISPS World Invitational and four 3rd place results.
Other victories – 1st 2019 Turkish Airlines Open (Secondary HotelPlanner Tour), 2016 Australian Amateur champion.
World Ranking – 263rd and projected to jump to 143rd. (Career high 128th)
