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Durban - Louis Oosthuizen remains determined to end a memorable year with victory in the South African Open Championship despite working through an ankle injury that has sidelined him from the game.
As the reigning Open champion, Oosthuizen is one of the main drawcards in the field for the 100th playing of the SA Open at Durban Country Club from December 16-19, 2010.
And despite the injury, sustained when he stepped into a pothole while on a hunting trip and which has hampered his golf since late September, Oosthuizen remains committed to a tournament that he likens to a Major.
“I am really looking forward to contesting at Durban Country Club as the Open Champion,” he said. “It has always been one of my dreams to win the SA Open trophy. There is no bigger tournament outside the Majors for a South African to win.”
Oosthuizen became only the fourth South African to win the Open Championship with his seven-stroke victory at St Andrews in July.
And, just as he emulated Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els at St Andrews, Oosthuizen hopes to follow in their footsteps by winning the country’s national Open at Durban Country Club.
“I guess some people will say that once you’ve won the British Open, what else is left? But I still have a few goals,” said Oosthuizen. “One of those is winning the SA Open. Sure, I want to win a few more Majors. But winning the SA Open rates right up there.”
“When those players lifted the SA Open trophy, they did it with such pride. When Retief (Goosen) won at Fancourt in 2005 and Ernie (Els) at Humewood, you could see the pride in their faces.”
Oosthuizen has confirmed that his recovery is going well.
“I will have to wear a brace for at least three months. The doctors were really worried that I might aggravate the injury by falling over in a bunker or something like that, but they've given me the okay to return to competition soon.”
As the reigning Open champion, Oosthuizen is one of the main drawcards in the field for the 100th playing of the SA Open at Durban Country Club from December 16-19, 2010.
And despite the injury, sustained when he stepped into a pothole while on a hunting trip and which has hampered his golf since late September, Oosthuizen remains committed to a tournament that he likens to a Major.
“I am really looking forward to contesting at Durban Country Club as the Open Champion,” he said. “It has always been one of my dreams to win the SA Open trophy. There is no bigger tournament outside the Majors for a South African to win.”
Oosthuizen became only the fourth South African to win the Open Championship with his seven-stroke victory at St Andrews in July.
And, just as he emulated Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els at St Andrews, Oosthuizen hopes to follow in their footsteps by winning the country’s national Open at Durban Country Club.
“I guess some people will say that once you’ve won the British Open, what else is left? But I still have a few goals,” said Oosthuizen. “One of those is winning the SA Open. Sure, I want to win a few more Majors. But winning the SA Open rates right up there.”
“When those players lifted the SA Open trophy, they did it with such pride. When Retief (Goosen) won at Fancourt in 2005 and Ernie (Els) at Humewood, you could see the pride in their faces.”
Oosthuizen has confirmed that his recovery is going well.
“I will have to wear a brace for at least three months. The doctors were really worried that I might aggravate the injury by falling over in a bunker or something like that, but they've given me the okay to return to competition soon.”
