Thriston Lawrence makes statement at British Open as DP World Tour unknown

TROON, Scotland — Few had ever heard of Thriston Lawrence before he appeared near the top of the British Open leaderboard on Saturday.

For much of Sunday’s final round at Troon, the 27-year-old South African held the lead.

He was 4-under-par on the front nine and had it to 7-under.

But he faltered on the back nine with a bogey on 12 and no birdies to finish 6-under and in third place.

Afterward, Billy Horschel, who was paired with him and finished second, had a cool moment with Lawrence, who plays on the DP World Tour, at the scorer’s trailer, saying, “It’s not a lot of time until we see you out there on the PGA Tour.’’

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“He’s a really good player,’’ Horschel said. “I’ve watched him for the last couple years. He’s got game that can compete at any level. We’re going to see more of him, not only on this stage but also on the PGA Tour.’’

Lawrence said, “Yeah, I think I did pretty well out there. I didn’t actually put myself under the pressure that some people are supposed to. 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.’’

Jon Rahm got off to a dream start Sunday to put himself in contention.

Rahm, who began the day at 2-over par and six shots off the lead, birdied the first three holes to get to 1-under par for the tournament, just three shots out of the lead held at the time by Horschel.

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Rahm, after his round on Saturday, didn’t count himself out from winning a first Open, saying, “There’s still room to dream about a possibly good Sunday and giving it a chance.’’

Rahm failed to keep it going, closing with 68 to finish tied for seventh.

Justin Thomas, who had an incredibly streaky Open, began the final round at even par and just four shots out of the lead, with more than an outside shot of making a run.

That run, however, was derailed on the first hole Sunday when he pumped his tee shot way right and onto the beach, out of bounds.

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He re-teed and hit his second drive into a pot bunker and walked off the hole with a triple-bogey 7, 3-over for the tournament and with his chances of making a run at the Claret Jug dashed.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who entered the day two shots out of the lead at 1-under, failed to make a move and shot 72 with a double bogey on 18 to finish tied for seventh.

Afterward, in an uncharacteristic move, Scheffler declined interview requests by the Royal & Ancient.

Calum Scott, a 20-year old amateur from Scotland who plays his college golf at Texas Tech, won the silver medal as the low amateur.

Scott, whose magical week began with finding his locker alongside Scheffler and Adam Scott, began the day 3-over par and finished at 8-over after shooting 76.

“At first, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I should be here,’ ’’ Scott said. “But I settled in and was like, ‘Let’s get this star-struckness out of the way and just focus. I came here for a job.’ ’’

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