Latest news with #JoakimLagergren
Irish Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
US Open digest: Schoolboy Mason Howell expects US Open challenge at Oakmont ‘to get crazy'
Age is but a number, and Mason Howell – the youngest player in the field at 17 years old – intends to embrace the experience of competing at Oakmont . Howell, from Georgia, was hugely impressive in navigating his way through the final qualifying in Atlanta, hitting back-to-back bogey-free 63s). He has his school coach Jimmy Gillam on the bag. 'I have total belief that he's going to be able to hold his own,' said Gillam of the teenager. 'I'm basically a jockey on a racehorse, a thoroughbred, and I'm really looking forward to it.' That his coach had experience of playing Oakmont was also a bonus for Howell, who explained: 'We play together all the time. I really needed an adult [on the bag] to calm me down because I know it's going to get crazy, it's going to be insane out there.' READ MORE Howell has been grouped with European Tour player Joakim Lagergren and PGA Tour rookie Chris Gotterup for the first two rounds. Cross-handed chipping catches on Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick was one of the first to popularise the art of cross-handed chipping. Now, he has company. Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick has started a trend. Photograph:Indeed, the trend is catching and a fourball of them got together for the final practice round at Oakmont. Fitzpatrick was joined by Justin Rose, Matthieu Pavon and American Chase Johnson, who plays on the developmental PGA Tour Americas. Johnson earned a spot in the field for his first Major after coming through qualifying. His decision to chip cross-handed came out of desperation. [ US Open: Dustin Johnson will take the rough with the smooth on return to happy-hunting ground Oakmont Opens in new window ] Johnson said: 'There's a word that golfers stay away from. It couldn't get any worse. I remember the first time I did it, I was with my dad at a course that I grew up at, Spring Hills in Ohio. I tried it and I was seven for seven with two chip-ins that day. I was like, 'I think we'll stick with that'.' Of his goal for the week, he added: 'Just keep it in play. It's one of those courses where you're better off having a four-iron in to hit the green. If you bomb it up there, maybe Bryson (DeChambeau) could get it out, but I know I'm not strong enough to get it through this stuff unless you miss it big and you're in the trampled down grass from the gallery. 'It's just keep it in play . . . you've just got to grind.' Quote 'Do you go for this par-four or do you lay up?' – Collin Morikawa to his caddie Joe Greiner on first standing on the par-three eighth hole. US Open champions to take home cool $4.3m The upward trend of recent years for US Open prize money has stopped. This year's championship remains at $21.5 million (€18.7 million), the same as last year. The winner will take home $4.3 million, just as Bryson DeChambeau did at Pinehurst. [ Rory McIlroy still waiting for competitive juices to flow again after Masters high Opens in new window ] Explaining the decision not to increase the prize money, USGA chief executive Mike Whan said: 'We didn't raise our purse this year. When I started at the USGA just four years ago, our purse was $12.5 million, so I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger. We're not really a fan of small, but when we go, go a little bit bigger.' The US Open, nevertheless, remains the biggest purse of any of the four Majors in the men's game. Mickelson leans on Bryson for YouTube help Bryson DeChambeau's success on YouTube – where he has over two million subscribers to his channel – has led to a number of other professionals tapping him for advice. Among those seeking his words of wisdom is Phil Mickelson. Bryson DeChambeau appears to have cracked the YouTube formula. Photograph:DeChambeau revealed the advice he gave to his fellow LIV golfer: 'First off, I said, 'you can be yourself'. You have that creative control to be yourself and I think that's what's so beautiful about it. You hire the right team around you that understands you, and it frees you up to be yourself. 'I said, 'you can do the content that you want to do. Anything you want to do, you can do it'. Then, 'listen to the people in the comments section. Go through, read them all, see what they want from you. Those are the things that we look at the most'.' Number: 10,202 This year's US Open had a record 10,202 entries, which beat the previous record of 10,187 players who entered for the 2023 tournament at Los Angeles Country Club. The 10,202 was whittled down to 156 players, which included 87 fully exempt golfers. The field was completed by those who came through qualifying.
Khaleej Times
09-06-2025
- 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
08-06-2025
- 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
07-06-2025
- 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
07-06-2025
- 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.
