Masters: Oosthuizen to lead the South African charge at Augusta
There are five other locals, including Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who'll also be teeing it up when the first round gets underway on Thursday.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa plays a shot on the fifth hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club earlier this week. Picture: Getty Images
Louis Oosthuizen will once again hog the Major limelight amongst South African golfers as he tees off at the Masters on Thursday in one of the feature three-balls, but there are also five other local stars gunning for glory at Augusta.
It will be a Masters unlike any other because not only have spectators been banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic but it is also taking place in winter, far removed from its usual slot at the height of spring in April.
Oosthuizen, South Africa’s highest-ranked golfer at No 19 in the world and third in the US Open in September, has been drawn with new sensation Bryson DeChambeau, who won the previous Major, and Spain’s Jon Rahm, who is also one of the favourites to win the famous green jacket.
The 38-year-old Oosthuizen is considered one of the top draws in world golf due to his stellar record in the Majors. He may have won just one – the 2010 Open Championship – but apart from finishing as the runner-up in all four, he has also claimed three other top-10 finishes.
Erik van Rooyen, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Dylan Frittelli are the other South African golfers within the top-100 in the world rankings who will be playing at Augusta, with Van Rooyen and Bezuidenhout making their Masters debuts.
Van Rooyen told his Twitter followers that he had goosebumps watching videos of Augusta and “cannot wait for the first tee shot”, while Bezuidenhout described it as “a dream come true”.
Justin Harding, on his debut at Augusta, was South Africa’s best finisher in last year’s tournament, his tie for 12th earning him a place in the 2020 field.
Charl Schwartzel has dropped out of the world top 200 after struggling since his return from a wrist injury, but is in the field thanks to his 2011 Masters triumph.
Trevor Immelman, the 2008 Masters champion, also had an exemption to play, but the South African has decided to be in the television commentary box instead.
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