In a thrilling climax to the 2025 KLM Open at The International Golf Club in Amsterdam, Scotland's Connor Syme clinched his maiden DP World Tour title, marking a significant milestone in his career. The 29-year-old golfer, hailing from Kirkcaldy just 25 miles from the iconic St Andrews, showcased remarkable composure and skill amid testing weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rain showers that disrupted the tournament multiple times.
Syme entered the final round with a two-shot lead over his playing partner, Sweden's Joakim Lagergren, and maintained his advantage to finish on an impressive 11-under-par total. His closing round of one-under 70 was highlighted by just a single bogey in his last 38 holes, a testament to his steady nerves and strategic play. Lagergren, despite an eagle on the 18th hole, finished two strokes behind Syme at nine under, while South Africa's Jayden Schaper claimed solo third place at four under.
The tournament, which has a rich history dating back to its days as the Dutch Open, has seen legendary winners such as Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Bernhard Langer, José María Olazábal, and Seve Ballesteros. Syme's victory places him among this esteemed group, becoming the first Scottish golfer to win the event since Montgomerie in 1993. His triumph also adds him to the list of distinguished Scottish winners including Gordon Brand Jr and Ken Brown.
Throughout the week, Syme demonstrated exceptional form, posting two rounds in the 60s during the first three days and skillfully navigating the challenges posed by the weather. The course was interrupted on three occasions due to flooding, darkness, and strong winds, yet Syme’s resilience shone through as he adapted to the conditions better than most of the field.
Sunday’s final round unfolded as a dramatic duel primarily between Syme and Lagergren. Syme struck first with a precise birdie at the second hole, hitting his approach shot to within four feet. Lagergren responded with a 15-foot birdie putt at the seventh but soon gave back ground after finding sand beside the ninth green. Both players matched birdies at the 13th hole, with Syme holing a 15-foot putt, but Syme’s first bogey in 33 holes came at the 14th, narrowing his lead to two strokes.
Despite the pressure, Syme held firm. Lagergren missed the 15th green, and although he nearly salvaged par with a brilliant chip, a shot slipped away, allowing Syme’s lead to extend to three with three holes remaining. Syme’s superb up-and-down at the 16th and a nerveless par at the 17th, coupled with Lagergren’s dropped shot, gave Syme a four-shot cushion heading into the final hole. Even with Lagergren’s eagle on 18, Syme calmly two-putted from 70 feet to seal victory.
Syme’s win was met with jubilant celebrations. His wife, Alanis, flew in to surprise him on the final green, embracing him amid champagne showers from compatriot Ewen Ferguson, who himself enjoyed a spectacular week highlighted by a hole-in-one at the seventh hole and a tie for fourth place alongside fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and England’s Jack Senior. The camaraderie among the Scottish players was palpable, underscoring a strong showing for Scotland at the event.
Reflecting on his victory, Syme expressed heartfelt gratitude and joy: "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. I'm buzzing I've done it with Ryan on the bag as well, I'm just overjoyed." His caddie, Ryan McGuigan, has been a crucial part of his journey, helping Syme navigate the pressures of securing his first DP World Tour triumph in his 182nd start.
Syme’s achievement also comes with a significant financial reward. The total prize money for the 2025 KLM Open surged to $2.75 million, with the winner taking home a substantial $467,500 (approximately £350,000), boosting Syme’s career earnings to over £3 million. Even those finishing in the top five earned over $100,000, reflecting the tournament's elevated status and competitiveness.
The event's rich history and prestige were further highlighted by the presence of honorary tournament director and footballing legend Ruud Gullit, who congratulated Syme on his breakthrough. The tournament also featured notable performances from other players, including last week’s Austrian Alpine Open champion Nicolai von Dellingshausen, Francesco Laporta, Jorge Campillo, Manuel Elvira, Andy Sullivan, and Dan Bradbury, all finishing at two under or better.
Daan Huizing earned the distinction of leading Dutchman by finishing at level par, underscoring the international flavor and high level of competition at the KLM Open.
Syme’s victory is part of a remarkable trend this season on the DP World Tour, which has seen 12 different first-time winners, signaling a vibrant and competitive landscape in professional golf. Syme himself acknowledged the significance of joining this elite group: "I suppose you don't really know you can actually do it until you have done it. I mentioned a few times that I hadn't won, to my caddie Ryan especially, and he's like 'You have won, you've won plenty of times as an amateur and you've won on the (HotelPlanner) Tour'. So I definitely know I can do it but it's obviously doing it on this stage. You can see by some of the talent that's come off the (HotelPlanner) Tour this year, it's amazing, we're all very, very good and obviously I'm delighted to add my name to that, one of now 12 first-time winners - it's absolutely awesome, amazing."
As the 2025 KLM Open closes with Syme’s historic triumph, the golfing world turns its eyes to the upcoming majors and Ryder Cup, where the momentum of rising stars like Syme could reshape the competitive landscape. For now, the Scottish golfer basks in the glory of his breakthrough victory, having conquered the Dutch greens and etched his name among the greats of the game.
