Flawless Oosthuizen writes new chapter for South Africa golf (Roundup)

By Ben James Jul 18, 2010, 19:14 GMT

St Andrews, Edinburgh - Louis Oosthuizen showed nerves of steel to write a new chapter for South African golf after he romped to a seven-shot victory at the British Open on Sunday to win his first Major.

The 27-year-old began the day with a four-shot lead and never looked like relinquishing it, eventually finishing with a 1-under-par 71 to record a total of 16-under-par, seven shots better than Englishman Lee Westwood.

Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey all finished one shot further back in a tie for third but they were all blown away by Oosthuizen, who became only the fourth South African to win the British Open.

'It's unbelievable,' said Oosthuizen, who wished Nelson Mandela a happy 92nd birthday as he accepted the winner's Claret Jug. 'After the 12th hole, it started to become a bit difficult having such a big lead. I was glad I had eight shots (in hand) at 17, though.

'Towards the end I think I almost cramped up a bit with the putter, I could hardly hit it, but it's unbelievable.'

Oosthuizen was the picture of calm throughout the four days at St Andrews, four days that saw the players buffeted by rain and high winds at times.

As always, the player who dealt with the conditions the best came out on top and Oosthuizen looked like he took it all in his stride, seemingly unaware of the magnitude of his achievement.

'It will probably hit me tomorrow or the week after,' he said. 'I felt like I played really well the whole week and the biggest goal was to stay calm, which I think I did well.'

The South African began the day four shots clear of Casey and the margin was reduced to three when he bogeyed the eighth hole.

But a brilliant eagle at the par-four ninth settled any nerves and from then on he was almost flawless.

Casey's chances went with a triple-bogey seven at the 12th hole, while Oosthuizen birdied it to extend his lead.

The South African bogeyed the 17th hole but had plenty to spare and a par at the last helped him card a 71 for a total of 16-under-par.

Oosthuizen thanked another former South African champion at the British Open, Ernie Els, for helping him become a professional thanks to the support they showed him with three years of play in a foundation run by Els.

'The three years I had in his foundation were unbelievable,' he said. 'It was a great foundation for a professional career, just unbelievable. Thanks to him again.'

Westwood, second in the US Masters, was second again on 9-under-par after a 2-under-par 70, left to rue a series of putts that refused to drop. The world No 3 is still chasing his first Major, but said he would keep plugging away.

'If I keep putting myself in the positions, that's all I can do,' he said. 'I know I need to improve - sometimes I don't know exactly what to improve - but that's what I need to do.'

Northern Irishman McIlroy bounced back brilliantly from his second-round 80 to finish with a 68 to tie with Casey (75) and Stenson (71) for third on 8-under, an excellent comeback from a man many feel is a future Major champion.

'I couldn't stop thinking about Friday (the 80) going up the last hole,' McIlroy said. 'It's one I let get away from me - apart from that round I didn't do a lot wrong. It's a what might have been week.

'I definitely wasn't ready to handle the conditions on Friday but I hit a lot of better shots in the wind on Saturday and Sunday.'

World No 1 Tiger Woods finished well down the list on 3-under-par after a 1-over-par 73.