Oosthuizen wins Malaysian Open golf

Oosthuizen cut a miserable figure seven days earlier at the Augusta play-off, but he was all smiles following his win over Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, who pushed him until the final holes at par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

The South African, who soared to prominence when he won the British Open two years ago, closed with 68 for a 17 under par total, enough for his first victory in Asia and his second of the season after January’s Africa Open.

But most importantly, the win atones for his gut-wrenching Masters play-off defeat a week earlier to American Bubba Watson, whose mesmerising shot from trees proved the difference on the second play-off hole.

“I was a little surprised to win here after that,” he said.

“I thought I would be a lot more tired. My golf was a bit up and down in the morning at the end of the third round but I settled down and played well later.” Last year’s Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was sixth, six shots back, while defending champion Matteo Manassero and former world number one Martin Kaymer were both in seventh spot.

Since Augusta, Oosthuizen has flown 16,000km across 12 time zones with his wife and children and grappled with jetlag in tropical Malaysia, where capricious weather forced storm delays on Friday and Saturday.

Oosthuizen had to rise early Sunday to complete seven holes of his third round, after heavy showers curtailed Saturday’s play.

He finished it with 69 to maintain his narrow, one-shot lead over Scottish journeyman Gallacher.

Best-placed Australian was Scott Hend, nine off the pace after rounds of 70-71-73-66.

Publisher: AAPNewswire

18 Apr 7:26 AM