EAST LONDON (8 January 2012) – The first thing Louis Oosthuizen did after lifting the 2012 Africa Open trophy was thank his wife Nel-Mari for not going into early labour this week.
“I really wanted to come to East London Golf Club and defend my title but our second child is due very soon, so I had my fingers crossed all week,” chuckled the delighted winner.
Oosthuizen denied Tjaart van der Walt the chance to shed his bridesmaid tag with a final round six-under-par 67. His winning total of 27-under-par 265 was two shots better than Van der Walt, who carded a four under 69.
The pair started the final round as joint leaders, but the match only turned in Oosthuizen’s favour at the penultimate hole.
“I might have been pushing my luck today. It was a real dog fight out there between us and I knew she would be watching every shot. I’m just glad she didn’t have to phone me halfway through the round to rush home. It’s a good thing we didn’t go to a play-off again.”
Twelve months ago, Oosthuizen battled Chris Wood from England and Spain’s Manuel Quiros for his first title in the European and Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned event. This time, it was Van der Walt who nearly took the tournament into extra time.
The Durban-born professional kept pace with Oosthuizen through 16 holes, but saw his chances to claim a maiden pro title slip when he bogeyed the par-three 17th. Oosthuizen birdied, forcing a two shot swing coming down the last.
“I had a messy start today with an eagle, a birdie and two drop shots in the first five holes, but I took on the sixth and that birdie got me going again,” said Oosthuizen, who also birdied the seventh, ninth and 11th to join Van der Walt again for the lead.
“I knew Tjaart would be in for the long haul, because that’s the kind of player he is, very tenacious.” The 2010 Major champion said he knew he had to make a birdie coming down the closing stretch to break the stranglehold and put Van der Walt under pressure.
The wind, which finally showed up on the final day after three days of sunny skies, played into Oosthuizen’s hands as the pair reached the 17th tied for the lead on 26 under.
“The 17th was playing really tough today with the wind blowing off the right,” he said. “When Tjaart hit it short, I aimed for the middle of the green.
“I had been leaving my putts short all day but on the 17th, I hit it firmly and it rolled in really nicely. When Tjaart missed the putt, I knew I didn’t have to get aggressive at the last.”
The two-shot swing left Van der Walt putting for his 11th second place finish, but the winner paid credit to the 37-year-old journeyman, saying Van der Walt had been a great opponent.
“It was great to see Tjaart play to his potential,” he said. “He is one of those players that won’t go away. He is too consistent for that.”
Goosen finished at 24 under par with a final round 69, while Jaco van Zyl launched to fourth and just a shot behind the 2009 winner after carding a flawless 66. England’s Alastair Forsyth bogeyed the last hole for a 67 that left him alone in fifth on 22 under, while Richard Sterne celebrated his return to competitive golf with a sixth place finish on 20 under after signing for a 70. |