Louis has designs on US Open at Oakmont
GOLF course designers speak of listening to the land when constructing their masterpieces.
This week, Oakmont Country Club will be doing most of the talking when it hosts the 116th US Open. And Louis Oosthuizen is more than ready to listen.
As he goes in search of a second Major triumph in a championship where he finished second behind Jordan Spieth last year, Oosthuizen will be more focused than ever on what Oakmont offers.
The 33-year-old has entered golf course design himself, teaming up with the Matkovich Group and designer Peter Matkovich.
“When I wanted to explore my passion for golf course design I was delighted that Peter and the Matkovich Group were willing to welcome me as they have. My first victory as a professional was on a Peter Matkovich golf course at Arabella. I’m looking forward to exploring some of my own ideas and learning as much as I can from Peter,” says Oosthuizen.
The partnership is a good fit. Both are farmers at heart.
“I think we’re both looking forward to getting our hands dirty. I’m tremendously excited,” says Matkovich.
Oosthuizen brings a global feel to what until now has been a successful golf course design company within Africa and Mauritius, but which now with the Major winner’s help will be looking to more international fairways.
And so Oosthuizen will look upon Oakmont with an even more critical eye as he attempts to glean its secrets in a week where he will share its deceptive fairways with countrymen Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Thomas Aiken, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel and Jaco van Zyl.
Oosthuizen will certainly feel he is due a second Major victory. He won the 2010 Open Championship and was runner-up in three more, two of which were in play-offs.
He will do well to listen to Goosen’s assessment of Oakmont and what it takes to win a US Open. Goosen has the perfect temperament for US Open golf, and plays this year thanks to a special exemption from the US Golf Association after his exemptions for LISTENING TO THE LAND: Louis Oosthuizen says some players are out of it already winning in 2001 and 2004 had expired. The US Golf Association likes a man who enjoys golf’s version of a torture chamber.
“The last time I played Oakmont was when Ángel Cabrera won [2007]. It’s a tough course.
“It’s visually intimidating and there are a lot of blind shots where it’s difficult to visualise targets. The rough will be punishing, and we’ll be hitting drivers on par threes,” says Goosen.
“In some tournaments par is a bad score and you get frustrated not making birdie on every hole, but in a US Open a par can see you gain some shots on the field.
“I like it because I know certain players will give up before the tournament starts. I know some of the players are out of it already.”
And as the likes of Oosthuizen look forward to a new phase in his career when he will be shifting some golf course land as well as playing on it, it may well also unlock that next Major triumph.