Making your first start in one of the five prestigious Rolex Series events can be a big milestone for players competing on the DP World Tour.
This week, we take a closer look at three players making their debuts at this week’s Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.
Thriston Lawrence
Thriston Lawrence became the first winner of the DP World Tour era after the Joburg Open was reduced to a 36-hole event in November. Now, he’s teeing up in his first Rolex Series event at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.
"It's so surreal," Lawrence had said at the end of last year.
The South African had matched back-to-back 65s to head into the weekend with a four-shot lead, and when continued weather delays and Covid restrictions forced the event to be reduced to 36-holes, his maiden victory was confirmed.
"I don't think anyone thought it would turn out this way, to finish on a Saturday afternoon but I'm just really thankful. It's a life-changing moment for me. It's a lifelong dream that has come true.”
It was his second professional victory following his Sunshine Tour triumph at the 2019 Vodacom Origins Stellenbosch, and saw him earn not only his DP World Tour status until 2023, but also his place in this week’s field.
This week will be the first start of 2022 for Lawrence, who had to withdraw from the first event in Abu Dhabi.
He will get his first Rolex Series event under way at 1pm local time alongside compatriot Justin Harding and American John Catlin.
Sam Bennett
Texas A&M amateur college star Sam Bennett finished top of the 2021 PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking, which earned him an invite into the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.
The Ranking is designed to identify the best college golfers based on winning, competitiveness and season-long performance, and was developed in partnership with the World Amateur Golf Ranking®.
Bennett, who topped that list, is excited to make his first appearance in a Rolex Series event.
“Dubai is awesome, it’s definitely the coolest place I’ve been to in the world… It’s nothing even close to my nine-hole course back in Madisonville
“It’s weird being a kid from Madisonville, Texas. I mean being here in Dubai, competing with the best, it’s pretty cool. But I mean, I feel like this is where I belong."
He gets his first Rolex Series round under way from the 10th tee alongside Andy Sullivan and Sami Valimaki at 11.40am local time on Thursday.
Nicolai von Dellinghausen
Nicolai Von Dellinghausen is another player who is set to make his first Rolex Series start this week.
The Dutch player ended last season at 119th on the Race to Dubai rankings– which helped him to secure a place in this week's field. Like Lawrence, he had to withdraw from Abu Dhabi.
“I’m more than happy (and a bit proud) to tee it up at my first Rolex Series event,” von Dellinghausen wrote on Instagram.
His best result to date on the DP World Tour was at last year's Tenerife Open, where he finished as the runner-up to Dean Burmester.
He gets under way from the first tee at 11.30am alongside David Law and Joost Luiten.
