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St. Andrews - Prior to this week, Louis Oostuizen's record at the British Open read - played three, missed three cuts.
So it came as a suprise to many observers to see the South African post a second-best, seven-under par 65 in Thursday's opening round on the day the venerable tournament returned to its spiritual home at St Andrews.
For the 27-year-old Oosthuizen, who plies his trade on the European PGA Tour, it was less of an unexpected happening.
"Not really, no," he replied when asked if he had done anything greatly different this week compared to previously.
"It was really a matter of getting my confidence up. I came close to winning a few times on the European Tour and I think the win in Malaga early on in the year got my confidence going a bit.
"It's nice playing St. Andrews. We play it every year in the Dunhill Links, and it's the first time I've played here in an Open. It's just a great golf course. I love it."
That win in Malaga at the Andalucia Open in March was the first for Oosthuizen following some close calls the previous year which saw him establish himself as a possible successor to the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman.
He played in the year's first two majors at the Masters and the US Open, but on both occasions failed to make the cut as he dropped out of the world top 50.
He also missed the cut in last week's Scottish Open so Oosthuizen was searching for form and the links layout at St. Andrews provided him with the key to unlock it.
"It's just I think I read the greens around here, I read them quite nice, and I've just got a nice feel on them. It's been nothing different that I did on my putting than last week and the week before."
