Connor Syme stays in Andalucia Masters title hunt

Connor Syme plays his second shot on the first hole during the second round of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama. Picture: Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Scot sits joint second after another tough day at windswept Valderrama

Connor Syme remained in contention for a maiden European Tour title with a share of second place at the halfway stage of the Andalucia Masters as Valderrama continued to provide a major-style test.

The Scot added a 72 to his first-round 69 to finish the day on one under par alongside Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson, who secured the winning point for Europe at Gleneagles in 2014, and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, with American John Catlin setting the pace on three under.

Catlin, who was withdrawn from the English Championship last month after breaching the European Tour’s Covid-19 protocol by visiting a local restaurant, birdied two of his last three holes to add a 70 to his opening 69.

Just four players are under par after 36 holes, with South Africa’s Wilco Nienaber on level par. The halfway cut fell at eight over.

Syme again finds himself in the hunt to break his European Tour duck after holding a one-shot lead after 54 holes of the Celtic Classic before finishing third and sharing the lead at the same stage of the following week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open, only to slip to eighth at Celtic Manor.

“I’m pretty pleased to be honest, it wasn’t easy again,” Syme said after his one-over par round. “The wind was probably a little less than yesterday but still equally as difficult. I probably wasn’t as sharp around the greens, got a couple of bad breaks, but that’s just going to happen to you to be honest.

“I’m happy with the way I grinded, and I holed a few nice putts there at the end to salvage a pretty good score again.

“I’m trying to focus for as little time as possible, switch off in between shots so that when you’re over the ball you’re putting everything into working it out. Because it’s such a grind, it’s pretty hilly and it’s a tough walk as well as being a difficult golf course so trying to keep as much energy as possible for when you’re playing your shots is key, so it’s tough but I’m happy with the score.”

Catlin will take a two stroke lead into the weekend after another bruising day. The American started the day alongside Syme in a four-way tie for the lead and was the only player to card two rounds in the red as the field again contended with strong winds at the notoriously tough 1997 Ryder Cup venue.

The 29-year-old, who has won four times on the Asian Tour, said: “Winning is never easy. It doesn’t matter what Tour you’re on, you have to go out there, make birdies and hole putts. Being able to look myself in the mirror and know I’ve done this before and can do it again is hugely helpful. It helped me out there today, even though I haven’t won a European Tour event, I know I’m fully capable of doing that.”

Donaldson, who added a 69 to his opening 72, reached a career-high of 23rd in the world in 2014 but began the week 423rd after almost five years without a win.

“I’m very pleased,” the Welshman said. “It’s a battle out there on the best of days. Even when there’s no wind blowing here it’s still difficult. It was blowing 30 [miles per hour] yesterday and probably 20 today.

“I’m happy with the position I’m in. I didn’t play a lot of golf [during lockdown]. I played four weeks in a row on the return and you get to my age [44] and need a bit of a rest. Had a lovely time in Anglesey with the family, it’s a case of resting up and getting ready for another big run.”

Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre sit at seven over par, while Grant Forrest and Craig Howie also survived the cut at eight over but Calum Hill made an early exit.

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