The 151st Open Championship is currently underway, and it has been nothing short of exciting! During the first round at the Royal Liverpool course, amateur Christo Lamprecht has stood tall (literally) on the leaderboard against some of the biggest names in golf. He currently leads the event with his impressive 5-under-par 66!

Just last month, the 6’8″ South African won the Amateur Championship. And now, with his impressive drives and remarkable skills, he’s turned the heads of many as he now looks to cement his name alongside golf legends like John Ball and Bobby Jones!

Christo Lamprecht gives the public a glimpse into his mind

A player’s game is undoubtedly important, but their belief in themselves is perhaps even more necessary for success! And that’s something Lamprecht has embodied brilliantly after his seven-birdie round on the course on Thursday!

On being asked post-round how surprised he was to see his name on the leaderboard, the South African star had an extremely humble yet confident reply. He stated that he was stunned to see himself on the scoreboard as an amateur, but not surprised. Lamprecht reminded the listeners that he earned his spot in the Open Championship and at the top of the scoreboard too!

Lamprecht believes that victory is much sweeter when the players themselves acknowledge and accept it. He stated, “It’s not a cocky thing to say. I just personally think I believe in myself, and I guess stepping on to the first tee box, if you’re a professional or a competitor, you should be believing that you should be the best standing there.”

The amateur golfer claimed that if players could be hard on themselves when they hadn’t done well, they had every right to appreciate their own performances when they did perform spectacularly, and that was exactly what he was doing.

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His powerful statements are not just talk; the golfer also has a brilliant swing to go with them! His massive structure and long arms also contribute to his remarkable skill. In fact, as per Golfweek, his shots off the tee measured approximately 33 yards longer than the average drive of the other golfers on the field on Thursday! However, will that be enough for him to join the elite cohort of Bobby Jones and John Ball?

After John Ball and Bobby Jones, would Lamprecht join the list?

The Georgia Tech senior and amateur world no. 3 won the British Amateur Championship at the Hillside Golf Club in June earlier this year and earned his way onto the field of The Open. In the past, only two amateur champions have won both the Amateur Championship and the British Open, and they were none other than John Ball in 1890 and Bobby Jones in 1930.

Christo Lamprecht currently does look like he’s set on the path to replicate their achievements, but with three more rounds to go, nothing can be said for certain. However, this won’t be the only major tournament the amateurs play in in the coming months.

His Championship victory at the Amateur Championship also gave him exemptions into the 2024 Masters Tournament and the 2024 U.S. Open. Therefore, golf fans will get to see a lot more of the tall South African at the majors, even though he has decided to return to University and become a professional later.

Do you think the 22-year-old has a shot at winning The Open this year? Let us know in the comments below.

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