It is a briliant case of ‘Mission Accomplished’ for Conor Syme is celebrating after securing full European Tour membership in brilliantly graduating at the six-round Qualifying School in Spain.
The 22-year old Drumoig golfer posted a closing 69 to grab a share of ninth place at 17-under par and well inside the leading 25 earning full Tour status.
Syme birdied his opening two holes for a second day running and then found himself sharing second with a fifth birdie of his round at the 12th hole of the Lumine course at Tarragona in Spain.
Scotland’s Conor Syme smiling after securing his 2018 European Tour card.
However the young Scot then doubled the 15th to slip down the board before steading to par his closing three holes.
“It’s an amazing day and I’m absolutely delighted to earn full status on the European Tour,” said Syme.
“It’s been a brilliant week, the last few rounds have been awesome so I’m delighted with it.
“It’s been an amazing few months and I’m delighted to have this opportunity to test myself against the best players in the world. It is going to be cool.
“To be honest, halfway through the year I wasn’t even sure I was going to be turning pro but a few months down the line I’ve got a full European Tour card. It’s crazy and I can’t wait to get going.
“When you think about the fact I was playing Walker Cup two months ago, that is just mental! It’s been an amazing few weeks so I’m absolutely delighted to have the opportunity now to test myself against the best players in the world.”
The former Australian Amateur and Crail Battle Trophy winner turned pro straight after August’s Walker Cup and made an impact immediately by finishing T12th thanks to an invitation into the Portugal Masters.
Syme then made the most of a second invitation to grad a share of 15th just 10-minutes from home at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
He went to the Spain Q-School posting opening rounds of 72 and 73 before muscling his way well up the board thanks to a third round 63 and from thereon Syme was not to be denied with subsequent scores of a pair of 67s and a closing 69.
Syme, however, could be staring at a 20,200-mile round trip from Scotland to Australia for his first event as a full European Tour member and that’s if he gets a start in the November 30th starting co-sanctioned Australian PGA on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
“I’m pretty exhausted right now after that (playing in a six-round event) but we’ll get schedule together and I am looking forward to getting going,” he said.
“It’s been a long year. I’d jam-packed my season in the early part and towards the end I’ve had loads going on.
“You can’t play in everything, but I’ll look at what my category gets me into and plan my schedule around that with my team.”
Syme now joins Bradley Neil on the main Tour after the Blairgowrie golfer finished top-15 on the 2017 Challenge Tour money list.
Oban lefty Robert MacIntyre and Aberdonian David Law each missed out on their European Tour card in failing to make in through among the top-25.
Though in making the four-round cut-off mark in Spain guarantees the duo full secondary Challenge Tour status.
