After the weather disrupted the second round of the Open Championship, the 27-year-old pro, Thriston Lawrence, finished 10 strokes behind the 36-hole leader, Shane Lowry, with a 3-over score. However, on the third day, when the weather was calmer and Royal Troon was not as nightmarish as the first two rounds, the South African native capitalized on the same and, with a score of 6 under 65, tied for the second position.

In just his third appearance at the Open, the 4-time DP World Tour winner is on his way to claim the Claret Jug and his maiden major victory. But what if Lawrence had not turned into a professional golfer, what would have been his career then? Surprisingly, the 27-year-old pro had eyes on the baits and hooks, as fishing is his go-to for unwinding from the pressure of professional golf.

His passion for fishing runs deeper than most would expect. Unlike most golfers who make a social media account just for themselves, Lawrence has made one more and dedicated that Instagram account for his fishing adventures, called, @Golfergonefishing. The latest of his endeavors was at his home country, at the Buffelspoort Dam. There, the 4-time DP World Tour winner caught a bass and declared it, “by far the best feeling,” reeling in the fish.

So, if golf had not worked out for the 27-year-old pro, he would have become a fisherman instead and, without any doubt, would have enjoyed the profession through and through. On the European Tour, Lawrence would not be the lone star who enjoys fishing; a Kiwi pro joins him in sharing an equal passion for fishing.

Ryan Fox explains why he and players like Thriston Lawrence turn to the waters

In all its truth, the game of golf takes a harsh toll on a golfer’s mental health when things don’t go as they had expected. A few missed cuts and the pros started contemplating their form, which may become a nightmare for their career. So, not release pressure from the on-course shenanigans, players like Ryan Fox and Thriston Lawrence turn to fish to calm their minds.

In an interview with the PGA Tour in 2023, the Kiwi pro explained that while many turn to golf after work, golfers do it the other way around. He said, “It’s weird for us to have to escape from golf, but fishing is a pretty easy way to do it.” Lawrence might started fishing for something similar, as Fox explained, because the pro had faced many failures in his career before entering the winning circle.

Whatever might be the reason for choosing fishing as another passion besides golf, it has started working for Lawrence to keep the stress away. After all, in less than 24 hours, the pro might walk home with the decorative Claret Jug and take it for his next fishing trip.