AFRICA OPEN:LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN believes he will not be distracted by the imminent arrival of his second child when he defends his Africa Open title this weekend.
Less than a month since Luke Donald won the Race to Dubai, the new European Tour season kicks off on Oosthuizen’s home soil at the East London Golf Club today with the 2010 British Open winner looking to retain the title he won in a play-off a year ago.
The 29-year-old overcame Spaniard Manuel Quiros and England’s Chris Wood then but is perhaps under more pressure this time around, with his wife Nel-Mare expecting their second child.
“It is always fun defending a title so I’m just hoping that the week runs smoothly and that I don’t get a phone call from Nel-Mare or the doctor telling me to come home,” said Oosthuizen.
“But, funnily enough, sometimes it’s good to have your thoughts elsewhere and not solely on the golf. Of course, I’ll be focused on what I have to do on the course but in the back of my mind I’ll always be mentally checking on what’s going on at home.”
Oosthuizen insists last year’s win was particularly special. “Obviously winning The Open was a dream come true for me but it was always a dream of mine as well to win a co-sanctioned tournament on The European Tour back home in South Africa,” he said.
“I had come close in the past at the Dunhill a few years back when Ernie (Els) won and in the SA Open the year James Kingston won, so to do it at East London last year was very satisfying.
“It’s a course where there are not a lot of driver holes and you should try and keep it low if you can. There are some tight fairways so you have to be careful, but it’s also a golf course where, if you take it on and succeed, you can really shoot low numbers. It is not a long course, it is all about position.”
Also in the low-key field are Oosthuizen’s compatriot Retief Goosen and 2011 runner-up Wood.
Goosen, the winner of two US Open titles, and Oosthuizen both concur that if the wind does not blow, as predicted at the coastal course in East London, then low scores will be the order of the day at the €1 million event.
Damien McGrane and Simon Thornton are the two Irish golfers chasing a decent cheque and some sunshine this week.
TOURNAMENT LOWDOWN
Course:East London Golf Club.
Length: 6,770 yards.
Par: 73.
Field: 156.
Prize money: €1 million (€158,500 to the winner).
Defending champion: Louis Oosthuizen 276 (-16). Won play-off with Manuel Quiros and Chris Wood).
Course records– 18 holes: 61 Richard Sterne (2009); 72 holes: 267 (-25) Retief Goosen (2009).
The course: Opened in 1893 this part links, part parkland has stood the test of time, hosting eight South African Opens and now its third African Open. The front nine is tight with small greens before it opens up a little on the back nine. With seven par-fours under 400 yards and two par-fives under 500 yards it is a very short course by modern standards for a par 73.
The strong sea breezes that come from the Indian Ocean are its best defence, but if they fail to blow, the course can be torn asunder by the professionals.
Type of player suited to challenge: Not one for the boom-boom merchants, like many classic designs from the late 19th century, it is all about accuracy here. Ability to play under the wind is also a big plus.
Weather forecast: Set fair for the tournament, but a stiff breeze expected throughout the four days.
On TV:
Live on Sky Sports 2 today, 8.30 to 10.30 and 1.30 to 3.30.
