Louis to keep knocking
MOOD: HAPPY WITH STATE OF GAME AS US OPEN LOOMS
Oosthuizen comes out smiling despite a few bumpy rides at golf’s ‘fifth Major’.
It might not have been the outcome he was hoping for, but if anything, Louis Oosthuizen made us all sit up and pay attention as he closes in on that elusive victory on US soil.
And even though he failed to match his opening two rounds, the new world No 18 – usually very calculated in his approach to life in general – has reason to flaunt that trademark gapped smile as the USPGA Tour heads into a crucial few weeks before this year’s second Major.
Oosthuizen opened with rounds of three-under 69 and 66 to head into the third round tied for the lead with American Kyle Stanley. But what had been a virtually flawless 36 holes turned into a somewhat blotchy affair to end on a seven-under par total of 281, three shots behind South Korea’s Si Woo Kim.
If there was something to be finicky about, it was his ball-striking, especially during blustery conditions on moving day.
“I knew it was gonna be that type of day where you can lose a tournament completely by shooting 77 or 78,” said Oosthuizen during his post-round interview last Saturday.
“And it was just a grind for me the whole way round. I didn’t strike it very well and had to make quite a lot of par putts. Didn’t really hit it close enough to make birdie, but I’m happy with the way I hung in there.”
The non-stop drudgery produced a pair of 73s to share second with England’s Ian Poulter. Heading into the final round one shot behind leaders Stanley and JB Holmes, Oosthuizen’s charge came to an abrupt halt when he double-bogeyed the par-four sixth.
There was a little bit of magic to come though when he buried a 34 feet putt to eagle the par-five 11th and throw his name back into the mix, only to be derailed by consecutive dropped shots on the 13th and 14th.
More importantly, the 34-yearold feels he has finally turned the corner and is in position to finally register a “W” on American turf. It is something the 2010 Open champion, like many of his peers, has grappled with over the years.
So when it finally happens, it will instantly garner the “oh finally” kind of reaction, much like when Sergio Garcia won his first Major at Augusta last month.
“I’ve come close a few times, and I’ve felt I’ve played really well,” said Oosthuizen, who will next tee it up at the Memorial at the end of the month.
“You know, so it’s something I don’t really want to think about, but you do now and then think about it. I’ve played well, and it’s odd not to think about that I haven’t won on US soil.”
Oosthuizen is planning at least one other start prior to the US Open which gets under way at Erin Hills, Wisconsin from June 15 to 18.
Walking away from TPC Sawgrass as South Africa’s second highest-ranked player, one spot behind world No 17 Charl Schwartzel, as well as moving up 43 spots in the FedEx Cup standings to 32nd, things are looking up.
Minimising the damage and staying in contention like he has is certainly very encouraging.
“Hopefully I can have a few good weeks before the US Open, but I’m happy with the way my game is. I’m going to just keep on playing,” said Oosthuizen, who wore a claret jug buckle on his belt during last Sunday’s final round, a sweet reminder of that spellbinding Sunday afternoon almost seven years ago.