At Joburg Open, Louis Oosthuizen Shoots for 2nd Straight Win
- By Dorian Netolicky on January 12, 2011 20:16 GMT
Louis Oosthuizen won a three man playoff last week and he’ll now take his game to South Africa’s biggest city as the Open champion looks to make it two in a row at the Joburg Open.
Oosthuizen was in world class form last week in Eastern Cape and made just 7 bogeys over 72 holes. His sublime run also included 3 eagles and it’s safe to say he’s back to the form he showed during major season in 2010.
His South African swing has been an unequivocal success, despite missing the cut at the Alfred Dunhill, as ‘Oosty’ vaulted himself into a 3rd place finish at the South African Open with a final round 63 and then rode that momentum to victory last week.
With no other big names in this week’s field, it’s logical the bookmakers’ send Oosthuizen off as the prohibitive favourite at (7-2).
Second on the betting board is young South African pro Thomas Aiken who hasn’t missed the top-15 in any of the South African events thus far.
Aiken started the South African schedule with a 5th at the Alfred Dunhill then followed that up with 14th place finishes at both Africa and South African Opens.
He’s been taking advantage of the watered down fields in South Africa and could have a shot this week before heading back to Europe where he had just two top-10’s last season.
It seems he’s a real wildcard, but the books like him enough to put him at (16-1).
The bookies’ third pick is another South African, Jaco Van Zyl, who missed out on last week’s playoff by a single shot.
Further to that, he managed a 13th against the world’s best at the HSBC Champions in November, so he’ll have no problem facing off against the likes of Oosthuizen.
Manuel Quiros is a longshot, but narrowly missed out on victory last week falling to Oosthuizen’s birdie on the first playoff hole.
Regardless, it was a career best finish for the qualifying school graduate and with a weak field in Johannesburg he could factor into the conversation.
It's not whether you win or lose - but whether I win or lose! - Sandy Lyle
