Lawrence ready to make more memories

Defending champion Thriston Lawrence returns to the Joburg Open on Thursday hoping he can dish up more life-changing success.

Lawrence won the 2021 event, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine and DP World tours, to thrust himself into a dream world of golf, adding victory at the Omega European Masters and making his Major debut at the Open at St Andrews.

And that, he said on Wednesday, was the beginning. “It’s where my dreams came true. It’s obviously not all the dreams I want to achieve, but it’s the start. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Houghton golf course, the new host for the tournament, was adorned with a banner sporting a photo of him holding the trophy. “It motivates you because if you’re there once you want to be there again. It does add a little indirect pressure because you want to defend it well and to give yourself a chance,” Lawrence added.

“I think the most important thing for me is just to keep on doing what I did this year. A lot of people tend to change things.

“Yes, you obviously need to process last year and what you did wrong, but for me if you keep it simple and keep on doing what worked I think it can only go well.”

Meanwhile, there will be two new co-sanctioned DP World Tour events this season, the $1.5m SDC Championship at St Francis Links from March 16-19 and the $1.5m Jonsson Workwear Open at Steyn City from March 23-26.