Thriston Lawrence of South Africa turned a nightmare start into a European Masters triumph Sunday, overcoming three straight opening bogeys to fire a 4-under 66 and claim his fifth DP World Tour title in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Lawrence, ranked No. 94 in the world, finished two shots clear of a three-way tie for second that included Matt Wallace (67), Sami Valimaki (65), and Rasmus Hojgaard, who surged up the leaderboard with a blistering 62.
What makes this win even more impressive is how Lawrence steadied himself after that disastrous start. He jumpstarted his round by driving the green at the par-4 sixth and draining a 20-foot eagle putt. From there, he added five birdies while navigating the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
Matt Fitzpatrick posted a solid 67 to finish alone in fifth, just three shots back. The timing couldn’t be better for Fitzpatrick, who’s hoping to catch European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald’s eye before Monday’s wildcard selections are announced. Hojgaard’s final-round charge might have done the same for his Ryder Cup chances.
This marks Lawrence’s first victory since the BMW International Open in June 2023, proving he can bounce back not just within a round, but across an entire season.
