Louis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen touched down on Spanish soil one year ago this month with a growing reputation as an unlucky loser. For the fourth time on The European Tour, the undemonstrative South African had just finished runner-up in a tournament and wondered when his big breakthrough might come.
Fast forward 12 months and the 28 year old from Mossel Bay will return to the same scorched earth close to Malaga Airport for the 2011 Open de Andalucia de Golf by Turkish Airlines at Parador de Malaga Golf amid somewhat different circumstances.
No longer the unlucky loser, Oosthuizen will defend the title he won by three shots from Richard Finch and Peter Whiteford to exorcise any demons of self-doubt. He also returns to Spain with the Claret Jug sitting on his mantelpiece at home in South Africa with his name engraved in perpetuity as The 139th Open Champion. This is where it all began, for Oosthuizen and transformed him being a tongue-twister to pronounce for TV commentators into the name on everyone’s lips.
“Yes, it’s been an incredible year,” admitted Oosthuizen, who went on to demolish the world’s elite over the Old Course at St Andrews just four months after his breakthrough in Andalucia at the event promoted by Miguel Angel Jiménez’s company.
“It was frustrating for me in Europe after winning five times in South Africa. I began to wonder when I was going to get over the line and Morocco didn’t help the week before I arrived in Malaga. Rhys Davies and I played in the last group and he was unbelievable and I finished second again, despite shooting a pair of 64s in the second and third rounds.”
However Oosthuizen wasn’t despondent – just doubly determined. He added: “It was difficult to deal with but I always had the feeling that if I preserved and played the same way then it would eventually happen.
Luckily it did straight away. “From the moment I arrived in Spain, it felt like a special week with Miguel promoting the event. I didn’t shoot worse than 67 over the four days and eventually won by three shots. Even after all the second places, it wasn’t a relief to win – it was a great thrill and a case of ‘job done’ after my victories on the Sunshine Tour.
“I really enjoyed the feeling of being in contention and coming out on top and it definitely came to my aid a few months later at St Andrews.”
Inspired by that success in Andalucia, Oosthuizen knew he could win in the highest class, and even after two missed cuts in a row, he arrived at St Andrews knowing he might be in with a shout at the oldest title in golf.
“The win in Malaga helped get my head round the fact that I could do it in Europe, and even though I had a rough few weeks leading up to The Open, I felt pretty confident and it showed in my play. I couldn’t it could happen like that, and I would win by seven shots, but it’s there in the record books!”
Oosthuizen left the Home of Golf with the Claret Jug tucked under his arm and he recalled; “It was an incredible experience and was just part of a great year for European Tour golf with three Major Champions and The Ryder Cup returning.”
The Open de Andalucia de Golf by Turkish Airlines will be played at the Parador de Malaga Golf from March 24th - 27th.
