HERMAN GIBBS
For a few fleeting moments, it seemed like South Africa would have another Major champion, but Thriston Lawrence suffered a meltdown over the final nine holes at the Open in Scotland on Sunday.
He hashed at least four birdie attempts on the back nine, which if he had holed could have catapulted him to world fame.
Lawrence alerted the golf world to his quest to win the Claret Jug after he carded a faultless front nine holes with four birdies and five pars. This saw the burly 27-year-old move to the top of a congested leader board on seven-under.
His final-round playing partner and overnight leader Billy Horschel was two shots back, with the eventual winner Xander Schauffele on five-under. Sandwiched in-between Lawrence and the American duo of Schauffele and Horschel was England’s Justin Rose, who was one shot off the pace.
Lawrence’s impressive front nine raised hopes that he could join the elite list of South Africans who have won the Open Championship, the oldest golf tournament in the world.
The high-profile list of South Africans to lift the Claret Jug includes Bobby Locke (1949, 1950, 1952, 1957), Gary Player (1959, 1968, 1974), Ernie Els (2002, 2012) and Louis Oosthuizen (2010). No southern hemisphere country has had more success at the Open than South Africa, which has produced the Champion Golfer on 10 occasions.
After the turn, Lawrence separated himself from the rest of the field with two pars and a birdie on the first three holes of Troon’s treacherous back nine. From this point onwards Lawrence needed to land the killer punch to keep the chasing pack, which included Major winners Schauffele and Rose, at bay.
Lawrence bogeyed the 12th and completed the rest of the round blemish-free. On another day this may have been enough for victory, but further ahead in the field was world No 3 Schauffele, who surged to the top of the leader board after four birdies between the 11th and 16th holes. This knocked the stuffing out of the South African’s challenge.
It was nevertheless a great performance for Lawrence who finished fourth after arriving at the event as the world No 98. He’ll be smiling all the way to the bank because his fourth-place payout of $876 000 amounts to almost R16 million.
As he trooped off the field at the end of the final round, Horschel offered him a compliment: “It’s not a lot of time until we see you out there on the PGA Tour.’’
Lawrence became a DP World Tour member with his victory in late 2021 at the Joburg Open, an event co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour.
His solo fourth-place finish has earned a return to next year’s Open, as well as his first Masters invitation. He has increased his chances of making this year’s Presidents Cup team. He also earned enough non-member FedExCup points (325) to earn special temporary membership on the PGA Tour for the remainder of 2024.
Afterwards, Horschel told the media: “He’s a really good player. I’ve watched him for the last couple of years. He’s got a game that can compete at any level. We’re going to see more of him, not only on this stage but also on the PGA Tour.’’
Lawrence was surprised by his ability to stay calm on Sunday despite the auspicious occasion.
“The mindset was to try to stay as composed as possible, try to stick to the game plan,” said Lawrence.
“I’m very proud of my patience this week, proud that I did it in front of all those people on a stage that I’ve never played in front of.
‘I think I did pretty well out there. I didn't put myself under the pressure that some people are supposed to.
“I just looked at it as a normal Sunday of a golf tournament. So being in the lead or being one or two shots back doesn’t change the mindset or game plan or anything.”
Lawrence’s highest finish in his two previous Opens was joint 42nd at St Andrews two years ago.