The Open 2023: Meet Christo Lamprecht, the 6ft 8in amateur who everyone is talking about

Christo Lamprecht impressed at Hoylake

Christo Lamprecht is difficult to miss. The South African amateur stands out because of his 6ft 8in frame and the reckless abandon with which he swings a golf club.

He is the tallest golfer to ever compete in an Open Championship and held the overnight lead alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Emiliano Grillo after shooting a five-under 66, the lowest first-round score by an amateur in a major championship since Tom Lewis at the 2011 Open Championship.

An eight-over 79 on Friday sent him tumbling down the leaderboard, but he still made the cut on the number and secured the Silver Medal as the low amateur.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 22-year-old who already has an army of fans at Hoylake.

Lamprecht is making his Major Championship debut at Royal Liverpool

He is one of six amateurs in the field this week and booked his place in the field after winning the British Amateur Championship just down the road at Hillside. A 3&2 victory over Rohan Kleu in the 36-hole final catapulted him to third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He’s also secured exemptions into next year’s Masters and the US Open.

His average carry off the tee is 325mph

The big-hitting South African used to play a 46.5-inch driver shaft, but had to go down to 46 when the rules changed in 2022. He still hits it a mile thanks to his long levers and plenty of knee flex through the ball, which saw him ranked first for Strokes Gained: Off the tee during the first round of The Open.

He also caught the eye of Bryson DeChambeau during the practice days at Hoylake because of his average ball speed, which clocks in at 192mph.

There are high hopes for him in South Africa

South Africa has a habit of producing world-class golfers. Lamprecht may be next on that list. Aged 16, he was the youngest-ever winner of the South African Amateur in 2017. He represented the International team in the Junior Presidents Cup later that year and again in 2019.

He’s now studying business administration at Georgia Tech with the view to becoming a financial advisor or manager, though something tells us golf may end up taking precedence.

This year he was a semi-finalist for the Ben Hogan Award, which recognizes the most accomplished collegiate golfers in the USA, but lost out to Ludvig Aberg, who is now being hotly-tipped to make the European Ryder Cup team.

Lamprecht has been learning from the best

He played with three of his countrymen during the practice days, teeing it up alongside Branden Grace and major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.

“The South African lads have all been helping me out, he said. “It’s really special that we all stick together no matter what age we are or where we are in our careers. It’s something I hold dear to my heart. I love playing links golf and it’s truly an honor to be here.”

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– The complete Royal Liverpool course guide
– Everything you need to know about the 2023 Open
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– Local boy Matthew Jordan impresses on day one at Hoylake
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About the author

Michael Catling
Features Editor

Michael Catling is Today’s Golfer‘s Features Editor and an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.

Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with dozens of Major champions, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, and Justin Thomas.

A former member of Ufford Park and Burghley Park, Michael has been playing golf since he was 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 10.

Away from golf he’s a keen amateur chef and has his own healthy recipes website. He also loves playing squash, going to the gym, and following Chelsea FC.

Michael uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, Ping G Crossover 3-iron, Ping G Series irons (4-PW), Ping Glide wedges (52º, 56º, 60º), TaylorMade MySpider Tour Putter, and Srixon AD333 golf ball.

Get in touch with Michael via email and follow him on Twitter.