Finish of finishes for Oosthuizen
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN claimed the biggest comeback victory in the history of the Volvo Golf Champions when he came from five shots behind to win the European Tour event at Durban Country Club yesterday.
Oosthuizen ( pictured) closed with a 66 to win by one stroke on 16 under par against the allchampions field.
The South African started the day five shots behind Scott Jamieson. But the turning point came when Jamieson doublebogeyed the fifth hole after hitting deep into the bushes, and Oosthuizen birdied the sixth to see them only two shots apart.
As Jamieson tried to steady himself, Oosthuizen increased the pressure with a birdie on the par-five eighth.
Oosthuizen drew level with Jamieson when he birdied 10, and then birdies at 11 and 14 carried him to the title.
“It was great. Starting five shots behind meant I had no real pressure. So I went out to see if I could make loads of birdies. I got to 9 and saw I was one behind, and the fans really got into it. By 12 I was leading by one and it was great to see the home fans so pumped up about it,” said Oosthuizen.
This is the sixth European Tour victory of his career, but the first in which he has won when not in the lead going into the final round. Oosthuizen led the exclusive 33-man field after his second round 64, but then slipped back with a third round of 74.
“I felt really uncomfortable on the course in the third round. My swing felt so unstable. On the final day I knew if I could get close to Scott I’d have a chance.
“I wanted to get to 18 under because I thought that would do it, but in the end I bogeyed 16 and then made two good pars on 17 and 18.”
Coming down the 72nd hole he held a two-shot lead over Jamieson, and Oosthuizen was able to par to hold out for the win. “17 is always a tough hole and I hit a wayward second shot with only a sandwedge in,” said Oosthuizen.
“Then 18 ... anything can happen on 18. You can make a two,three,four,five,six if you pull a driver. So it was never over.”
Jamieson was hunting the fairytale of back-to-back victories in Durban after his victory in the Nelson Mandela Championship late last year. But a level-par 72 saw him take second on 15 under.
“I’m extremely disappointed just to come up one shot shy after I had umpteen chances out there,” he said. “But he’s a good player. He’s a Major champion.”
Oosthuizen is also a few steps closer to his goal of reaching world number two.
“It’s a great start and I can only build from here. Now I’ve just got a few more to go on the world rankings.”
Defending champion Branden Grace had to settle for a share of seventh on 10 under while Ernie Els was shared 18th on seven under.