Thriston Lawrence will try defend his SA Open title at the end of the month. Picture: Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Thriston Lawrence has confirmed he will defend his South African Open title at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate from 30 November to 3 December.
A star-studded field though will push him all the way in this co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event. Also in the mix will be former SA Open winners Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Daniel van Tonder and Brandon Stone while Dean Burmester, Erik van Rooyen and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel will also tee it up.
Van Rooyen has just won his second PGA Tour title, capturing the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico.
“This is the one you want to win – your national Open. It was so special to have Gary Player watching as well. He’s won 13 of these, and now I’ve got one as well. I grew up watching it on TV and always wanted to win it, especially with all the names on that trophy and the history behind it. It’s what you dream of,” said Lawrence.
Bezuidenhout, who won his SA Open title at Sun City in 2020, said: “It’s always been a dream and I wasn’t sure when, or if, I would achieve it.”
And Van Tonder, who triumphed in 2021, added: “This is the second oldest Open in golf, and winning it is big.”
For Burmester and Schwartzel, it remains a dream title they are still chasing.
“For us as South Africans it’s our fifth Major and we all want to win it so badly. I’ve won the South African PGA Championship, so to get my name on the South African Open trophy as well and have done the double would be very special,” said Burmester.
“I’ve come close a few times and that victory has so far evaded me. It’s one that I would really like to be able to win. It would be an amazing tournament to be able to win as the second oldest national Open in golf. As a South African it would be a privilege to have that under your belt. All golfers want to win their national Open and it would mean a lot to me,” added Schwartzel.
Tickets for the South African Open Championship can be purchased at www.sunshinetour.com.