Three holes won on the bounce at the turn ultimately helped Louis Oosthuizen get off the mark at the WGC-Dell Match Play on Wednesday, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Oosthuizen defeated Jason Dufner 1UP to go 1-0-0 at Austin Country Club.
It was the American who grabbed the early advantage when he holed his short birdie putt at the first to put the pressure onto Oosthuizen, who is aiming for revenge when he meets 2016 champion Jason Day in the last round of group play later in the week.
The 2016 runner-up promptly got it back to all square when he drained a putt from over 21 feet on the third.
Oosthuizen was unable to move in front as he struggled on the greens, two-putting the next four holes for a streak of pars. He, rather fortunately took an unlikely 1UP lead when he got up and down from the bunker and watched as Dufner three-putted from the fringe.
That lead was short lived as Dufner birdied the ninth to send the match into an intriguing back nine.
The match swung dramatically in the 25th seed’s favour over the next three holes as Oosthuizen went par, birdie, birdie to move out to a three-hole lead over the 42nd seed.
Dufner got one back at the 14th when Oosthuizen pulled his approach into the greenside bunker and failed to make it two sand saves from two.
One back was two when the 2013 PGA Championship put it to gimmie range with his second on 15 as he opponent, the 2010 Open champion saw his birdie from 13 feet hang out to the right.
Dufner then took advantage of Oosthuizen being bunkered off the 16th tee as he found the par 5 in two with a superb 3 wood. With his counterpart in close for three, the American casually rolled in his eagle to draw level – for the first time since the 10th – with two to play.
EAGLE for @JasonDufner.
He’s won 3 straight holes and is now AS.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/CkPRuE8vk4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2018
The short 17th swung the contest in the South African’s favour as Dufner went long and couldn’t save par to allow Oosthuizen to regain the advantage with a regulation two-putt par.
The drama was far from over as Oosthuizen found the rough on 18 and watched as Dufner drove the green. The South African held his nerve as he pitched to 2 foot. The putt was not conceded making it seem a little longer when he needed to hole it following a two-putt 3 for Dufner.
Clutch from Louis Oosthuizen ????#DellMatchPlay pic.twitter.com/n7unJzcgus
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 21, 2018
Hole it he would as he edged home.
‘3-up, five to go, cruising sort of,’ said Oosthuizen after the battle.
‘I had one bad shot on 14 and misread the par putt to go 2-up. Then Jason nearly holed his second on 15 and made eagle on 16 which you can’t really do anything against. I got fortunate on 17 that he was going first actually.
‘I probably would have hit the same club as him and ended up going with a shorter club. And I think I had a pretty good shot on 18. I think it’s my first time playing 18 if I’m not mistaken. I didn’t know where the line was with the tee.’
Birdie/eagle count:
4 – Oosthuizen
4/1 – Dufner
*In the second Group 8 match, Jason Day defeated James Hahn 4&2
Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
