King Louis’ African reign continues
FOUR young men with the words “All Hail King Louis” emblazoned on brightly coloured vests followed Louis Oosthuizen in the final round of the Africa Open yesterday, watching every shot he played.
And their homage was clearly well-directed as Louis is king again. The 29-year-old defended the title he won here last year, this time prevailing by two shots at East London Golf Club on 27-under-par 265 after a titanic final round battle with playing partner Tjaart van Walt, who finished on 267, one clear of Retief Goosen, who took third on 268 and was also in the final group.
And next best was Jaco van Zyl on 269 so South Africans took the first four spots in this low-scoring
1-million (about R10,4m) event co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine Tours, which heralded the start of the 2012 Race to Dubai.
Oosthuizen and the 37-year-old journeyman Van der Walt – chasing his first victory on any tour in his 16-year pro career – were pretty much neck-and-neck for the first 16 holes.
And it was still all square when they arrived on the elevated tee at the par-3 17th, the wind pumping for the first time all week, and blowing straight into their faces.
It was an awkward tee-shot – Oosthuizen described it as “extremely tough” – and Van der Walt was just short of the green with his effort and, facing a long chip, took three to get down en route to a bogey. Oosthuizen, though, hit a beauty of a six-iron to about 40 feet and rolled the putt in for an unlikely birdie and a two-shot swing to effectively seal victory.
“I’d left quite a few putts short all day but I gave that one a bit more steam and it went in, and I guess that made all the difference and put the pressure on Tjaart,” said Oosthuizen. “The wind got up quite strongly on the back nine and holes 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 were really challenging. I love this golf course, though, and when the wind blows it’s something you really want to take on.”
This was the ninth win as a pro and the fourth European Tour victory in 192 starts for “King Louis”. He becomes the fourth South African golfer to make a successful defence of a European Tour title after Ernie Els (2002-04 Heineken Classic), Trevor Immelman (2003-04 SA Open) and good friend Charl Schwartzel (2010-11 Joburg Open).
This is also the 102nd South African victory in European Tour history and Oosthuizen, who earned
158 500 (about R1,6m) yesterday, shoots into the lead in the 2012 Race to Dubai. At the same time he moves beyond 6m (about R62m) in European Tour career prize-money.
The top overseas player yesterday was Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth who closed with a 67 for 270 and fifth spot, two better than sixth-placed Richard Sterne who is back in golf after a year on the sidelines with a debilitating back injury.
Oosthuizen is skipping the Joburg Open because he wants to be with his wife Nel-mare who is expecting their second child and is due any day now. “I have to thank her for not going into labour this week!” he exclaimed.
This was the fifth Africa Open and the third time it has been co-sanctioned with the European Tour. All the previous winners have been South Africans (Shaun Norris, Goosen, Schwartzel and – the last two years – Oosthuizen).
The players love the old style golf course set among high dunes and dense coastal and, happily, the tournament will have a home here for the next five years.
This comes after Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality councillor Pumla Nazo announced that they would be extending their sponsorship for the next five years, ensuring the city will continue to attract a strong cast of international golfers and enjoy the economic benefits the tournament brings. GOOD news ahead of this week’s Joburg Open is that two-time champion Retief Goosen has added his name to the entry list, and this follows the announcement at the weekend by US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel that he will be defending his title.
The inclusion of the two Major winners, who were not initially on the entry list, adds a great deal of stature to the
1,3-million (about R13,5-million) tournament which starts on Thursday at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington club.
One of the reasons the Goose has entered is that he has slipped to 53rd in the world rankings and needs to get inside the top 50 to ensure that he plays in this year’s Masters in April, although his strong performance in the Africa Open, which finished at East London GC yesterday, has probably already done this.
Following his victories in 2010 and last year Schwartzel will be bidding to win the tournament for the third straight year – a hat-trick of this nature being a rare feat in world golf.
The Joburg Open is played on both the East and West courses allowing for a bigger than normal field of 206 professionals, who will be joined by four amateurs.
A pre-qualifier for players not straight into the main draw will be staged tomorrow.