The Rick's Sports Blog

How Do You Say It? Champion!!!! | July 18, 2010

Before this weekend you no one knew the name Louie Oosthuizen (Whoost-Hazen), now it will be common place in the world of golf.  The young 27-year-old South African conquered golf’s legendary Old Course at St Andrews.  An amazing performance, King Louie took control on Friday and did not look back.  Winning by 7 strokes the second most in the modern history of St Andrews.  Playing a steady mistake free game, Oosthuizen did exactly what was needed to win the British Open, keeping the ball on the fairway and making key putts along the way.  A great win for a kid that no one knew coming in to the tourney. Oostuizen will now be mentioned in the same breath as South African greats, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

Much of the weekend was spent learning how to pronounce Oozthuizen’s name.  People called him everything from Whoosterhizin, to Oosterheiz.  Now they can just simply call him Champion as he held off Lee Westwood and Paul Casey to win the Claret Jug.  Prior to his win on the Old Course, Oozthuizen’s best performance in a major was a 78th place finish at the PGA Championship in 2008.  This was truly a feel good story of the weekend, that provided many other memorable moments. 

No one will forget Miguel Angel Jimenez’s bank shot on 17

Or Tom Watson’s probable last walk over the Swilken Bridge on the 18th Fairway

Unfortunately, Watson had a rough day Friday and was unable to repeat the magic he created last year at the British Open where he lost in a playoff with Stewart Cink.  A 4-time winner of the Claret Jug, Watson still has a few Open’s left in him, but it is widely speculated he will not be back to St Andrews in 2015.

  The most memorable moment however was the unknown golfer from South Africa,  Louis Oosthuizen dominating the links course for his first ever major.  Without the fanfare or Vuvuzelas, King Louis is the Champion of The 2010 British Open.  2010 will be a year remembered for South Africa after hosting the FIFA World Cup, now we can add-on Louis Oosthuizen’s Open Championship into what is one of the most memorable years in South African sports.

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