Who is Thirston Lawrence and the only player who can deny Rory McIlroy a sixth Race to Dubai title at this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai?
Lawrence trails McIlroy by 1,786 points and with 2,000 points awarded to the winner of this week’s tournament is the only player who can mathematically become 2024 DP World Tour No. 1 and be handed the Harry Vardon Trophy.
However, if Lawrence is to become a first South African born to win the coveted title in 20-years then Lawrence will need to finish first and McIlroy 11th or worst on the host Earth Course at the Jumeirah Estates.
South African Thirston Lawrence – Image from Thriston Lawrence instagram
While the golf world knows all about McIlroy let’s provide some insight into the 27-year-old Lawrence.
Born – 3rd December 1996 at Nelspruit, South Africa (Located around 3 hours north of Joburg).
Lives – Still lives at Nelspruit or Mbombela that is the gateway to the famed Kruger National Park.
Club attachment – Pretoria Golf Club and founded in 1894.
Amateur career – Won 2013 and 2014 South African Amateur Championship & 2014 Lytham Trophy. In winning the 50th hosting of the Lytham Trophy he became the first South African to do so.
Turned professional – In 2014 and shortly after turning 18. He was then ranked World No. 1,560.
First DPWT event as a pro – 2014 Scottish Hydo Challenge, Challenge Tour
First pro career pay cheque – Euro 1,500 – 2014 T44th Azerbaijan Challenge Open (Fourth event as a pro)
First professional victory – 2015 Ras Al Khaimah Classic on the MENA Tour with Darren Clarke among four to finish runners-up. The win helped Lawrence earn the 2015 MENA No. 1 title.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence (wearing glasses) with His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi along with joint runner-up Darren Clarke plus Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the tour, at Tower Links Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah.
First DPWT event – 2013 South African Open as an amateur
First DPWT event as a pro – 2014 Made in Denmark
Maiden DPWT win – Won the 2021 Joburg Open and the inaugural event of the newly-renamed DP World Tour.
First pro career pay cheque – Euro 1,500 for T44th Azerbaijan Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour
Richest prize cheque – Euro 804,302 – 4th 2024 Open Championship
DPWT Rookie of the Year – Voted 2022 DPWT Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
Pro career wins – Nine. Four on the DPWT (Two co-sanctioned with Sunshine Tour), four Sunshine Tour (Two co-sanctioned with DPWT), one MENA Tour and one on the Big Easy Tour.
Wins on the DPWT – 2022 Joburg Open, Omega European Masters, Investic South African Open. 2023 BMW International Open (Image below)
Thriston Lawrence congratulated by fans in winning the 2023 BMW International Open (Image DPWT)
Best finish in a major – Fourth 2024 Open Championship. It was Lawrence’s 100th DPWT event and he led going into the final round at Royal Troon. The result earning him a first invitation to contest the 2025 Masters.
Prior DP World Tour Championship results – 5th (2023), T41st (2022)
Previous South African born winners DPWT No. 1 title – Ernie Els (2003 & ’04), Retief Goosen (2001 & ’02) and Dale Hayes (1975)
Caddie – Theunis Bezuidenhout has had an expansive career in golf. He is a former Sunshine Tour player. He is also a one-time champ on the Sunshine Tour, having won the Big Easy IGT Championship in 2019 after beating Reinhardt Blaauw in a playoff. In his time as a pro, he has also teed up at the South African Open in 2017 and 2020 and the 2018 Alfred Dunhill Championship. Bezuidenhout is also the ambassador for Titleist Africa and FootJoy Africa.
No, he’s not related to fellow South African golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Relaxation – Loves fishing with my dad. Once caught a 3.6 kilogram Bass. Has an Instagram account: golfergonefishing) simply devoted to his fishing.
Thriston Lawrence with a 3.6 kilogram Bass (Image – GolferGoneFishing)
Here’s wishing Thirston he catches the biggest fish of his golfing career later this week in Dubai.
