Thriston Lawrence

The current South African Open champion leapt from 503rd in the world to 243rd by winning the 2021 Joburg Open and, as the first event of the Open Qualifying Series, booked his first major championship start at St Andrews.

The event had been cut to 36 holes because of weather delays and then Covid concerns and when it was called off, his opening two rounds of 65 left him four clear of compatriot Zander Lombard.

It was Lawrence’s second title on his home Sunshine circuit – the first was the 2019 Vodacom Origins of Golf – and first success on the DP World Tour as the tournament was co-sanctioned.

Lawrence enjoyed more success in August 2022 at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, where he started 62-64 and beat Matt Wallace in a play-off to move into the game’s top 100 for the first time.

He 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, Lawrence finished as runner-up to Thomas Detry at the European Challenge Tour’s Bridgestone Challenge.

He was third at the Horizon Irish Open last July and finished 14th on the DP World Tour Rankings.