Louis Oosthuizen favorite at Nedbank Challenge
South African Louis Oosthuizen gave everyone something to cheer about this Nedbank Golf Challenge. It helps when you are South Africa’s hopeful to end a five-year victory drought.
It does not help of course if you are back fresh from a year’s absence, the last, and only time you played at this venue, was in 2010, where you had ended at the bottom.
“I forgot how narrow the fairways are and how thick the kikuyu is,” Oosthuizen said.
As things are, given the recent rain, the rough along the fairways has carpeted into really thick matter, making it vital to drive straight.
Swinging from the rough, take it from Oosthuizen, is not the more pleasant part of the day. Then there are the greens which, given the recent showers, will be running slow.
Any golfer would know that the difference between winning and losing tomorrow will depend on how well they adapt to them.
Throw Lee Westwood into that mix, as the leading contender to the $5 million in top prize money and you have a problem.
For two consecutive years at the Gary Player Country Club, Westwood has remained the defending champion. He feels confident enough there at the high perch to attempt a never-before hat-trick.
To the 30-year-old home favourite, this easily looks like an uphill task. He has, in a press conference release earlier, already identified Westwood a bigger obstacle to his win than whatever dread the kikuyu rough has to offer.
“So you have to think that Lee Westwood's name is going to be right up there. He has an amazing record around this course, he's a world-class player and one of the best ball-strikers in the game”.
“He drives the ball so straight and he has great iron play, so he gives himself so many opportunities for birdies,” he continued.
“He's able to take driver on a lot of holes where the rest of us take a three wood. That's how confident he is with that club".
So, although it will be a walk in the park for Oosthuizen, given the requirements of the game, it does not look to be so, figuratively. Nevertheless, all hail King Louis! Bring back the trophy!
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