Louis Oosthuizen shot 76 in the first round of the US Open at Chambers Bay last year, but backed it up with the record low score for 54 holes in the championship’s history and tied for second place.
‘This is always going to be a tough week, and it gives you confidence for any tournament when you’ve achieved something like that in the past. If you shoot a really bad round you’re still in it,’ he said.
From Thursday the 116th edition begins at Oakmont Country Club, where the high rough and 210 bunkers demand accuracy. Oosthuizen is 11th on the PGA Tour for total driving and cannot afford errant tee shots in Pennsylvania.
The world number 14 constantly shows his class in the majors and was runner up at the US Open and The Open Championship last year. He tied for 30th at the PGA Championship and 19th at The Masters.
The 33-year-old produces his best golf on tough layouts and in 2010 he obliterated the field at The Old Course at St. Andrews to win the Claret Jug.
His near-misses at other majors include a playoff loss to Bubba Watson at Augusta National and a playoff loss to Zach Johnson at The Open.
This week at Oakmont the trying conditions and mental challenge are right up Oosthuizen’s alley.
Earlier in the season ‘King Louis’ was second to Jason Day at the WGC-Dell Match Play and then finished seventh at the Valspar Championship.
He missed two cuts in the buildup to this week, but is simply too good a player to not contend. Expect to find him in the mix on Sunday.
