Sam Torrance: Louis Oosthuizen is a laid-back farmer who happens to be a brilliant golfer
When Louis Oosthuizen announced his talent to the world by winning the Open Championship in 2010, he celebrated by buying a custom-built tractor for his farm back home in South Africa.
That tells you a lot about Oosthuizen. He is a wonderful guy who is not desperately keen on fame, loves being at home on the farm with his family and sees golf almost like a hobby.
He happens to be one of the world’s best players, though, so I could hardly believe that his win at the South Africa Open on Sunday was only his second title in almost five years.
For someone with a game as good as his, that seems extraordinary. Oosthuizen could be winning three tournaments a year, so some might say that he was underachieving.
I just think that he feels torn between two worlds: the jet-setting professional golf circuit and a more laid-back existence on his land in Western Cape Province.
Oosthuizen is often talked about as having the best swing in the game, while he is a beautiful putter and has a delicious short game.
He only turned 36 in October, so age is not an issue for him and I can absolutely see him winning more Majors to add to that Open victory at St Andrews.
His ability is undeniable, so it’s a question of incentive. Majors provide that, and he has finished second at all four of them in the eight years since he lifted the Claret Jug. At the 2012 Masters and 2015 Open, he got within a play-off of winning.
It seems that playing at home also spurs him on. Including this comfortable six-shot win at the South African Open, Oosthuizen has now won five of his nine European Tour titles in the country.
Perhaps signing off 2018 on a high note will inspire him to come back and be more prolific next year.
Stellar year catching up with Wallace
England’s Matt Wallace stayed in touch with the top of the leaderboard until the final round in Johannesburg but had a disappointing finish, dropping from second to 15th with a 74.
I’ve met Matt a few times now and I’m certain that it won’t have been down to any shortage of effort. Thirty tournaments into a long season, it was probably a case of fatigue catching up.
Having won three times on the European Tour and broken into the world’s top 50, he has had a fantastic year and will be more than satisfied.
Fellow Englishman Oliver Wilson and former Masters winner Charl Schwartzl were among those who shared third place in South Africa and earned the lovely Christmas present of a place at Royal Portrush for next year’s Open.
G-Mac on way back
Another man with an eye on the Open is Portrush native Graeme McDowell, who shared second place alongside Argentinian Emiliano Grillo at the QBE Shootout in Florida at the weekend.
As a team event there is only so much you can read into the results, but it was nice to see McDowell up there again. There was some exciting golf, too, as Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman won by one shot.
Hats off to Greg Norman. He hosts the tournament, which does wonderful work raising money for charities.