“There were a lot of people who when I left school told me I was making a mistake. But I didn’t worry about a Plan B. I was out there trying to do what I wanted to do. I knew I was good enough and I was convinced I was going to make it. It’s never nice to hear the negativity because it comes from people who don’t have faith, but it also motivates you.

“Negativity and criticism is tough because you read a lot of things on social media and people’s comments. But I’m my own boss and the only one who can criticise me is me. The process of that mindset for me is to just try to be the best version of myself and not worry about the critics. I’m just trying to be a nice guy and positive towards other people and push them to become better, and to do the same myself.”

Lawrence is by admission not an overly technical golfer and even his process of setting goals is not an extremely rigid one.

“I’m not big on writing down goals. I want to play at all four Majors this year, try to get into the Olympics and play at the Presidents Cup. But I’m not too fazed about stats and small goals. I just try to do my best every week. I stick to the process and to what’s working. I believe you can change a few things around your golf like how you eat, how you train and how you plan your schedule. Those things make a difference for me. But at a tournament I play golf and then go back to the hotel.”

A goal that never changes, though, is his desire to be the best South African golfer of his generation.

“Being the best in South Africa is a big thing for me. I was lucky enough to be the first South African to be named the DP World Tour Rookie of the Year. I’ve also been the best South African on the DP World Tour rankings.

“I want to follow in the footsteps of Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen who were the best in the country in their era. They are role models to me. I want to be the best, and mentally I’m flying the flag high for the country and trying to lift South African golf and hopefully inspire another youngster out there.”