Caddie Zack Rasego and Louis Oosthuizen in 2010
Reigning Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen has reluctantly been forced to withdraw from this week’s Open de Andalucía by Turkish Airlines, where he was due to defend his title.
The South African was all set to return to Parador de Malaga Golf, the scene of his maiden European Tour victory 12 months ago, but an ongoing eye infection, which has been troubling him for the past month, has ruled him out of the tournament.
Oosthuizen said: “I was desperate to return to Malaga, as I have such fond memories of my first European Tour victory there last year. But unfortunately since playing in Miami at the WGC-Cadillac Championship two weeks ago, when my eye was troubling me, the infection has only got worse.
“I am so disappointed to be missing the event, especially as my friend Miguel Angel Jiménez is once again promoting it, but the doctor has advised complete rest, and I don’t think I could have done my title defence any justice. My focus now is on getting myself fully fit for the Masters, when I hope to win my second Major.”
