DP World Tour members impress at The Open in Troon

By Mathieu Wood

From career-best finishes at a Major Championship to headline-making exploits on debut at The Open Championship, several DP World Tour members left Royal Troon with a lot to celebrate.

For a spell during the final round of The 152nd Open on Sunday, Thriston Lawrence appeared on track to claim his maiden Major title at golf's oldest championship and a remarkable victory at that having started the third round ten shots adrift of the lead at the halfway stage,

Yet, after surging into contention with a stellar five-under-par 66 in the third round, the South African took the outright lead at the turn on Sunday with his fourth birdie of a bogey-free front nine. And while he was unable to sustain that high level over the back nine, playing in the final group, the 27-year-old managed to card a three-under-par 68 to claim solo fourth place.

In doing so, four-time DP World Tour winner Lawrence achieved the best result of his burgeoning career in one of golf's four elite tournaments.

It could also guarantee him a spot in the field at next year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland and significantly a debut at the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, should both tournaments retain the same exemption categories as this year.

"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," said Lawrence, who climbs to 71st in the Official World Golf Ranking and fifth on the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

"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, me trying to win a golf tournament, trying to be creative, and I managed to accomplish that. So, I am very proud of myself."

Justin Rose put together a fantastic performance on his 21st appearance at The Open to finish tied second as the Englishman almost became the first qualifier to win the Claret Jug since Paul Lawrie a quarter of a century ago.

The former World Number One closed out the week with a four-under-par 67, receiving rapturous applause as he finished with a birdie on the 18th green, to end at seven under and share second place at The Open, six years on from doing so at Carnoustie.

"That's the deal I made with myself today to come off with no regrets," he said. "I'll have a few more chances, of course, but I knew that this was a great opportunity.

"In terms of how I played and the execution of my emotions today, my mindset, I left it all out there. I'm super proud of how I competed."

Alongside him on the leaderboard was Billy Horschel, who registered his career-best result in a Major as the 54-hole leader birdied his final three holes to card a three-under-par 68 in the west of Scotland.

It is his second top ten at a Major this season, and belief that he can go on to win one of golf's most prized pieces of silverware has only strengthened.

"I did a lot of great things that I can take on to the next few years of Majors, and hopefully one of these will be my time to step through the door and hold one of them," he said.

Shane Lowry can also reflect on a strong showing at Troon as he pushed for a second Claret Jug.

The 2019 Open champion is another to end the 2024 Major season with two top tens, having finished in a tie for sixth at the US PGA Championship.

One spot below him on the Open leaderboard was Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm as the Spaniard climbed eight places on the leaderboard with a final-day 68.

"How could you not look back on it positively, a chance to win The Open?" the Irishman said. "Obviously the critics and whatnot will say that I probably should have won from where I was yesterday afternoon, but it's not easy out there. It's not easy to win tournaments like this.

"I did everything I could. Unfortunately, I came up short. Hopefully over the next five to ten years I give myself another few chances in tournaments like this and get one more."

But it is the result of Dan Brown which perhaps drew most interest. In his Major debut, the Englishman created headlines worldwide as he claimed the first-round lead before settling for a tie for tenth at level par, alongside countryman Matthew Jordan - his second consecutive top ten at the Open - and Australia's Adam Scott, who was appearing in his 93rd consecutive Major.

Qualifier Brown, who won on the DP World Tour in his rookie season last year, came into the championship without any form of note after earlier injury troubles this year but ended the week playing in the same group as World Number One Scottie Scheffler.

"I had like seven weeks out with an injury with my knee not long ago, and then I haven't really got firing since. It's nice to have a good result under my belt again," the 29-year-old said.

In another result of note for a DP World Tour member, New Zealand's Daniel Hillier finished in a tie for 19th as he made his first cut in a Major on his third start at The Open.

Which DP World Tour members finished in the top 20 at The 152nd Open

• Justin Rose
• Billy Horschel
• Thriston Lawrence
• Shane Lowry
• Jon Rahm
• Dan Brown
• Matthew Jordan
• Adam Scott
• Alex Noren
• John Catlin
• Daniel Hillier
• Shubhankar Sharma