Thriston Lawrence

Thriston Lawrence catapulted himself into contention for The 152nd Open with a Saturday 65 at Royal Troon.

The South African was part of the final group on Sunday, alongside Billy Horschel, and led heading down the back nine before Xander Schauffele's late charge. Lawrence finished fourth, three shots back, enough to earn a spot at Royal Portrush as well as a Masters debut in 2025.

Lawrence has finished in the DP World Tour top 20 for the past two seasons, winning twice in each campaign.

First time round it was the Joburg Open by four – at a time when he was ranked 503rd in the world - and the Omega European Masters in Switzerland after a play-off with Matt Wallace. Last season, he became South African Open champion and captured the BMW International Open in Germany by one from Joost Luiten.

On his home Sunshine circuit, Lawrence first tasted success at the 2019 Vodacom Origins of Golf. His victory over Wallace took him into the game’s leading 100 for the first time.

Won back-to-back South African Amateur crowns, also claimed the 2014 Lytham Trophy and, while still a teenager, was the 2015 winner of the MENA Tour in the Middle East. The following season, he finished as runner-up to Thomas Detry at the European Challenge Tour’s Bridgestone Challenge.

Joint-fifth at November’s DP World Tour Championship and a week later led the Joburg Open heading into the final day, but slipped into a tie for seventh.