Louis Oosthuizen: My dad wanted me to be a tennis champion
Louis Oosthuizen revealed that his dad wanted him to become a tennis champion.
This South African is the one who attempted and then completed the legendary story of golf by lifting the Claret Jug on the Old Course at St Andrews.
Louis Oosthuizen's spectacular victory came as a result of years of hard work. He went real hard on making his name on the Sunshine, Challenge and European Tours. The 27-year-old South African says that not only he had to work hard but he also had to fight his own father to accomplish his dream.
His dad, Piet, was a huge tennis fan and wanted his son to compete at the Wimbledon rather than at St Andrews.
Piet, who himself is a tennis player, was all so determined in seeing his son with a racquet that he left in anger when his son disappointed him and chose golf.
Louis Oosthuizen’s comforting smile shows a recollection of his early battles with his dad to play the sport in which his passion lied. He recalls that he played tennis at a very early age for the province while he was still a school going kid.
"But my brother started playing golf and then, a year after him, I took it up. My dad was very cross with us because he was a big tennis man.
"He was always playing tennis but me and my brother preferred golf.”
Louis says that his father would not take him to the golf course because he wanted his sons to play tennis.
Finally Louis won his dad over but it took sacrifices of dreams from his family so that he would walk the path that led to the Open success.
Louis Oosthuizen’s financial and coaching support came with the help of Ernie Els' Golf Foundation. Louis Oosthuizen tried his luck and Ernie Els immediately accepted it.
Initially he played on the provincial level from Southern Cape but after 6 months he was selected for SA Juniors later SA Senior and it carried on.
After this trail of tournaments Louis Oosthuizen turned professional in October but could not make it to Europe so he played Challenge Tour in 2003.
In getting to the professional level Ernie Els was the biggest support for the champion. He was also among the very first at St Andrews who offered their congratulations to the new Open champion.
Louis Oosthuizen said that he and Ernie had the whole of the Sunshine Tour together and he was really proud that Louis was a part of his foundation.
Louis Oosthuizen has started the Louis Oosthuizen Junior Golf Academy at Mosel Bay Golf Club. He has 4 juniors in the academy aging 13 and 15. Hopefully, one of them will become a top player some day.
The South African, has jumped from 54th to 15th in the world rankings. He has accepted an invitation for this week's Scandinavian Masters in Sweden.
Being an Open champion, the door to the US Tour are all set to open but Louis Oosthuizen likes to play according to his schedule and he is all set to go to Sweden.
He is taking one thing at a time to see where it takes him. At the same time he wants to enjoy the new title of championship as well. As the party raged inside the Jigger on Sunday night, Louis Oosthuizen stepped outside to witness the realization of his dreams.
"But when I get back home, get a DVD of all this and have a look at the last round, it'll probably settle in a lot more. I think it'll be nice to just sit and watch."
There are chances that dad Piet might even turn his favourite Rafael Nadal off and accompany his son in watching his winning moments.
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