South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen turned the British Open into a procession yesterday, winning the famed Claret Jug after crushing the world’s best golfers by seven strokes.
The 27-year-old brought the Old Course to its knees, settling for just two bogeys over the final 35 holes, and became the sixth South African to win a major championship.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say happy birthday to Mr. Nelson Mandela back in South Africa,” Oosthuizen said.
Yesterday was the former South African president’s 92nd birthday.
The coronation was never in doubt for Oosthuizen, who had missed the cut in his three previous Opens.
The man nicknamed “Shrek” sank a short par putt on the 18th green, took off his cap to acknowledge the crowd and embraced his wife, Nel-Mare, and 7-month-old daughter, Jana.
