Golf
Schauffele wins the Open, SA’s Lawrence finishes fourth─── MORGAN PIEK 08:18 Mon, 22 Jul 2024
“I’m very proud of my patience this week, very proud I did it in front of all those people on a stage that I've never played in front of. I’m just very proud of myself.”
Xander Schauffele of the USA is the Open champion for 2024 following a two-stroke victory at Royal Troon in Scotland.
Yesterday, the 2021 Olympic champion, carded a final round of six-under-par 65 to claim the Open on nine-under-par to beat the South African-born Justin Rose and Billy Horschel of the USA by two strokes.
The win earns Schauffele his second major title for the year after also winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence finished in fourth on six-under-under for his best finish at a major.
Thriston Lawrence. Photo: The Open.
Lawrence said he was proud of his performance and the aim was not to put himself under unnecessary pressure heading into the final round.
“I think I did pretty well out there. I didn’t actually put myself under the pressure that some people are supposed to,” said Lawrence.
“I just looked at it as a normal Sunday of a normal golf tournament. Yes, it is The Open, it is a bigger stage. But being in that moment, I felt so calm.
“It felt like a normal Sunday for me trying to win a golf tournament, trying to be creative, and I managed to accomplish that.
‘He approached it like any other Sunday’
“I’m very proud of my patience this week, very proud I did it in front of all those people on a stage that I’ve never played in front of. I’m just very proud of myself.”
Lawrence added that while it’s the world’s oldest major and most prestigious tournament, he approached it like any other Sunday, and the goal was to get a win.
“It’s like any other tournament. Once you’re in the lead, you always think about winning. But teeing up today, that was my mindset, going out there to try and win.
‘Still, it’s a tournament, just a bigger tournament’
“So, being in the lead or being one-or-two shots back doesn’t change the mindset or game plan. Like I said, it’s a normal Sunday.
“Yes, it’s the Open Championship, my first final group in a major, first top 10 in a major, but still, it’s a tournament, just a bigger tournament, more iconic tournament.”
Bloemfontein’s Dean Burmester, who was in the mix in tied fourth heading into the third round, had to settle for a share of 19th after a difficult Saturday led to him dropping down the leaderboard.
