OLD COURSE FIRESUPLOUIS
Royal St George’s. Oosthuizen extended his lead to two shots over the field and is on course to repeat his wire-to-wire success at the Old Course 11 years ago.
He insists the key to that triumph was not getting ahead of himself and claims the same valuable rules will apply.
Oosthuizen said: “Looking back at 2010, and I know I had a big lead, but the first time I really thought about whether I can win was after my tee shot on the 17th.
“There were a lot of things that could go wrong at St Andrews coming in and around this course, a lot of things can happen.
“I don’t think you want to think too much of it on a links course until you get to that 18th green and, hopefully, you have a lead. You try not to think of it until you’ve done it.”
Oosthuizen takes great form into the final 36 holes of the 149th Open with his 64 and 65, for an 11 under par 129, smashing the record for a halfway score.
He said: “I only heard that when I walked in. I wasn’t aware of what it even was beforehand.
“To have any record at the Open or part of any record at the Open is always very special.
“I’ve played really well the last two days.”
Since his St Andrews success, Oosthuizen has finished runner-up in six Majors including this year’s USPGA and US Open.
The 38-year-old takes confidence from the near misses and said: “It’s more inspiration, I would say, knowing that I can still compete. I think in a few of them, I needed to play just that little bit better coming down the stretch.
“US Open at Torrey Pines wasn’t the easiest golf course to go the last six holes trying to get a birdie. You were sort of just playing making pars.
“Jon Rahm finished with those two unbelievable putts and all of a sudden I was chasing. So that was difficult to try and win.
“I played well enough, I could have probably been a little bit more aggressive on a few occasions. I don’t think I’d have done a lot different in a lot of them.
“Right now, where my game is at, I just need to put myself in position and this year is the best I’ve been putting. I just need to hit greens and give myself any opportunities for birdies.
“I just need to pull it through and see if I can go one better this weekend.
“The game is good, but I know it’s a really good leaderboard. I have to play good golf this weekend if I want to come out first.”
MacIntyre made the cut for the final two days with a 36th hole birdie.
He said: “I knew exactly what was going on, I was watching every leaderboard coming in and let go of everything that was going on to hit the putt on the last.”