South African golfer Thriston Lawrence could not be prouder to lift the European Masters title in his debut appearance at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland.Heading into the final round, Lawrence had a three-shot lead and was two up with five holes to go until he bogeyed the 16th, which saw him level with Englishman Matt Wallace, who posted four-under on 18-under par.The duo strode back to the 18th hole, where Lawrence tapped in for par as Wallace three-putted the playoff hole to hand the South African the famous red jacket awarded to the champion."All of the history around this tournament, looking at Seve (Ballesteros) there twice, 1977, 78, I wasn't even born yet. [It's] just crazy to see the history around this tournament.
It's my first time here and it's probably one of my favourite weeks. Definitely coming back, it's been amazing," Lawrence said following his win on Sunday."In regulation, on 18, I wasn't nervous until I got to the green and [when I] hit an unbelievable putt from the front edge, [it] got me a little nervous.
I left myself with a three-footer. Putting is not always my strength so just had to dig deep."Lawrence became the first South African to win the event since Ernie Els took the title in 2003, and he joins the likes of Jeff Hawkes, Hugh Baiocchi, Dale Hayes, Harold Henning and Bobby Locke to win at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana.It was Lawrence's second DP World Tour title after his win at last year's Covid-hit and weather-affected Joburg Open.Lawrence, who is playing his rookie season in Europe, has had a stellar run on the DP World Tour so far as he sits ninth in the Tour's rankings for the 2021/22 season."A lot of talk after the Joburg Open [about] only winning a