British Open 2010: Louis Oosthuizen Impresses, Holds Lead Entering Final Round

Louis Oosthuizen, a 27-year old relatively unknown South African, bogeyed the first hole of the British Open’s third round to see his five shot lead quickly reduced to four, I thought he would completely crumble under the pressure and do what Dustin Johnson did in the final round of the U.S. Open earlier this year.

Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, and Lee Westwood, among others, were on his tail. But with impeccable balance and a smooth, powerful swing, he remained composed and impressively held onto his wide advantage.

Playing partner Mark Calcavecchia folded early, bogeying the first three holes and then quadrupling the par-five fifth. The lack of pressure from Calcavecchia had to calm Oosthuizen’s nerves. His play suggested as much.

He has had a successful year overall, but though some butterflies had to be floating around in his stomach, the lack of notoriety seemed to make him as care-free and free-wheeling as possible given the circumstances. He just played his game.

The moment didn’t tweak his swing.

The wind wasn’t as much of a factor as it was during Friday’s second round. That helped a majority of the field limit the damage, especially around the greens. A few moves were made because of the calm weather, most notably by Casey, who began the day at with a large group at six-under but swiftly moved up the leaderboard with a brilliant front-nine. He birdied three of the first four holes and five total on the opening nine.

Gusts weren’t blowing shots every which way, so solid, consistent ball-striking translated to solid chances at birdie. He made the most of those chances early then, though many opportunities were missed on the back, played bogey-free golf the rest of the way.

Oosthuizen was nearly as flawless. He had that opening bogey I presumed would spell doom, but it ended up being the only blemish on his card. Just when it was thought he had found himself in a bit of trouble, he escaped, making par after par. It helped that a few birdies were mixed in. None of his four on the round were more indicative of his play than his on the last.

A par-four, 357–yard hole with undulations all through the fairway that made it simple to see the topography of St. Andrews, Oosthuizen pulled out his driver, and with his effortlessly, picturesque, strong swing he pounded a drive that bounded over the many mounds and scurried onto the green, just twenty feet beyond the hole. A tap-in birdie brought his round to a fitting end, and, thanks to the nine pars rattled off by Casey on the back, it increased his lead to four.

He has never been in this position, holding a lead of this magnitude into the final round of a major. Now, history is against him. The last five majors have been won by someone trailing entering the final round. Then there is what happened to Johnson, which has to be blocked out of his mind entirely.

And the last three winners of this major have come from behind over the final 18. To stay away from being the fourth 54-hole leader to lose the British, he has to play with the same mentality that earned him a third-round 69. A good start is necessary; it was a horrific one that did in Johnson before reaching the fourth tee. Casey is going to put up a good fight. Westwood, Stenson, Martin Kaymer, and Alejandro Cannivares are going to try to creep up from behind, too. But even if he does bogey the first again, he can’t let that be the start of a collapse.

This advice is easier said than it can actually be processed and lived out. He will be thinking about the first tee until he reaches it, then reality will hit him. Johnson had a quick-leash. He got mad at himself too easily. He let his mind play games with him. He lacked focus. Oosthuizen seems to have the personality and talent to duplicate his third-round performance and not turn into Johnson.

He has to tell himself that tomorrow is just another day. A day that, with his composure, fluid swing, and brilliant play off the tee, in the fairway, from the rough, and on the greens, could result in an unexpected major victory for the South African.