Five facts you should be aware of Thriston Lawrence

Thriston Lawrence was one shot ahead over the final nine holes of Sunday’s event, and was amazed by his first appearance in such a major event. After

By Staff

Written by Staff @PGATOUR

Thriston Lawrence had a one-shot lead through the final nine holes on Sunday. He did a fantastic job for the first appearance in something this crucial. After finishing with a score of 4-under-32 in the front nine and eight pars, the golfer racked eight birdies and one bogey on Troon’s difficult inward half. The final round of 68 placed Troon at 6 under 278, which is three shots clear of winner Xander Schauffele.

“I think I did pretty well out there,” Lawrence said in the aftermath of his event. “I didn’t put myself in the position that some are conditioned to. I just viewed the day as just a regular Sunday in the normal golf event. Yes, it’s The Open, it is larger and has a higher level. However, in the moment, I felt at peace. It was like a normal Sunday me attempting at winning a golf competition as well as trying to be innovative and managed to achieve that. I am so happy with myself. “

A spectacular par save on 18 handed Lawrence the honour of finishing fourth and could have profound implications for his peers in the South African. Lawrence will be able to compete at this year’s Open and also get his first Masters invitation. This will also increase the odds of being part of the next Presidents Cup team. He also earned enough non-tour members FedExCup points (325) to qualify for a special membership to the PGA TOUR throughout the rest of the year 2024. In addition to that, he put himself the task of receiving his TOUR card in 2025 as well.

Lawrence has gained fifth position in the Top 5 of the DP Tour’s Race to Dubai standings with his fourth-place finish in Troon. He is second in the overall standings for the entire season for players who aren’t exempted in the PGA TOUR. The top 10 players of the Race to Dubai at season’s closing who aren’t exempt from playing on the TOUR can be eligible for PGA TOUR cards for 2025.

The following are five most significant items you must keep in mind about Thriston Lawrence’s dramatic performance that changed his life at The Open:

1. Lawrence is a 27-year-old player from Kempton Park, South Africa. He switched to professional cricket when he was a teenager in 2014, after winning the South African Amateur in both 2013 and 2014. The other highlight winning the 2013 Lytham Trophy. He was a participant of both the MENA Tour in 2015 and the Challenge Tour in 2016. He was presented with an award of the MENA Tour Order of Merit in 2015. He also won his first major award as a professional in the 2015 Ras Al Khaimah Classic, in a five-man event with previous Open Champion Darren Clarke. Lawrence was an active participant on his first time on the Big Easy Tour in 2018 receiving an official badge to play in the 2020-2020 Sunshine Tour season. He won the inaugural Sunshine Tour event in 2019 at the Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament in Stellenbosch.

2. Lawrence is ranked 98th on the planet. Lawrence was able to get himself into this year’s Open due to his ranking as among thirty top players in the 2023 Race to Dubai, finishing 19th in the rankings of the DP World Tour’s season-long event thanks to two victories. He has been a winner four times during his career on the DP World Tour. Two of his wins were in his native country from South Africa, at the 2021 Joburg Open and 2022 South African Open. He was also the winner of in 2022 his Omega European Masters and 2023 BMW International Open.

It was his first time as a South African to win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.

3. Lawrence was made an DP World Tour member with his win in the final part of 2021’s Joburg Open. Joburg Open in his native South Africa, an event that is sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour. The event was reduced to 36 holes due to the discovery of the COVID variation that was novel, and the weather being inclement. Lawrence had reclaimed an advantage of four shots having two 65s during the initial two rounds. His win brought him into the DP World Tour.

4. Lawrence is an avid fisherman who has an Instagram account dedicated to that pursuit (@golfergonefishing).

5. PGA TOUR fans may be more likely to see him in the months to come and throughout the years. The top 10 winners from the Race to Dubai Race to Dubai who aren’t yet excluded from TOUR are eligible to be awarded PGA TOUR cards until 2025. Five top 10 performances during the season Lawrence ranks 15th on the Race to Dubai and is 9th in the group of players with no TOUR recognition. Lawrence’s success this week is likely to boost him up the list of players. It could be the catalyst for a possible Presidents Cup bid. He was 23rd when he started the week in the rankings of the international team however he is also likely to make a huge leap in the squad.

In addition to the 10 PGA TOUR cards available via the Race to Dubai Rankings in conjunction with Rolex for the top players who aren’t already exempted, Lawrence will hope to increase his performance by becoming a dual participant. Five top 10s have been recorded during the first two months of the season. On the DP World Tour, the 27-year-old is currently 15th in the overall standings for the entire year. In the period leading up to The Open, he was ninth on the list of players not exempted from the PGA TOUR, so with the possibility of scoring some big points at the closing major tournament in the year, they’ll try to improve his chances to be a professional from the US by playing a strong last course at Ayrshire.

Thriston Lawrence on the green in the final round of Open Championship 152nd at Royal Troon. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)