TROON, Scotland — Few people had ever heard of Thriston Lawrence before he appeared atop the British Open leaderboard on Saturday.
The 27-year-old South African held the lead for much of Sunday’s final round at Troon.
He was four under par through the first nine holes, but improved to seven under par in the second half.
But he faltered on the back nine, bogeying the 12th hole and failing to get a birdie, finishing in third place at six under par.
Later, Billy Horschel, who finished second with Lawrence, who plays on the DP World Tour, shared a fun moment with him in the scorer’s trailer and told Lawrence, “It won’t be long until I see you on the PGA Tour.”
“He’s a really good player,” Horschel said. “I’ve watched him the last few years and he’s capable of competing at any level. You’re going to see a lot more of him, not just here but on the PGA Tour.”
“Yeah, I thought I did pretty well there. I really didn’t put any pressure on myself like some people should. I just took it as a normal Sunday at a normal golf tournament,” Lawrence said.
“Yes, it’s the British Open. It’s a bigger stage. But in that moment, I was very calm.”
Jon Rahm got off to a dream start on Sunday and is in contention for the win.
After starting the day at two-over par and six strokes behind the leader, Rahm birdied his first three holes to move to one-under par for the tournament and just three strokes behind then-leader Horschel.
Rahm remained steadfast in his quest for his first British Open title after Saturday’s round, saying “I still have room to dream of a good Sunday and take my chances.”
Rahm couldn’t maintain his momentum, finishing with a 68 to finish in a tie for seventh place.
Justin Thomas, who had an incredibly eventful Open, started the final round at even par, just four strokes off the lead and in good shape to make a comeback.
But that streak was ruined on the first hole Sunday, when he hit his tee shot wide right and sent it flying out of bounds on the beach.
He retried his tee shot, hit his second into a pot bunker and left the hole at triple-bogey seven, three over par for the tournament and ending his chances of winning the Claret Jug.
The final round of the British Open golf tournament held at Royal Troon. Jack Gruber – USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, began the day at 1 under par, two strokes behind the leader, but couldn’t back down, making a double bogey on the 18th hole for a 72 and finishing in a tie for seventh place.
Later, in an uncharacteristic move, Scheffler declined a request for an interview from The Royal & Ancient.
Callum Scott, a 20-year-old amateur from Scotland who plays collegiate golf at Texas Tech University, became the youngest amateur to win a silver medal.
Scott, whose magical week began by finding his locker next to Scheffler and Adam Scott, started the day three-over par and shot 76 to finish eight-over.
“At first I was like, ‘I don’t know if I should be here,'” Scott says, “but then I calmed down and thought, ‘Let go of all the stardom and just stay focused. I’m here to do my job.'”
