The Telkom PGA Championship has been given added impetus with the inclusion of two of the country’s most exciting young professionals in Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel for the R1,5-million tournament at Woodhill Country Club this week.
Both golfers head to the fairways of the Woodhill Country Club as big drawcards in spite of their status as rookie professionals, which is offset by the fact that both are expected to make an impact on the European Tour this year, where they have playing privileges.
Oosthuizen returns to Woodhill and the event in which he turned professional last year, but which he could not complete after being forced to retire ill in the first round.
The young golfer was forced to retire after nine holes of his round when he collapsed on the 10th fairway from the effects of food poisoning.
”It feels really good to be going back there,” Oosthuizen said. ”I’m really excited about playing because I feel like my game is starting to get to where I want it to be. I didn’t do too well at the South African Airways Open and then I struggled a bit at the Dunhill Championship.
”My posture wasn’t that great and I didn’t feel comfortable over the ball. But it came together about two weeks ago and I’ve started hitting the ball really well.
”If I can keep it all together I can do well this week.”
Despite the huge interest in his career, Oosthuizen says he’s not placing too much pressure on himself to claim that maiden victory on the Sunshine Tour.
”Everyone’s playing really well on the Tour at the moment. You can see that by the scoring, especially in the Nashua Masters last week. It’s just a matter of whose week it’s going to be this week.
”I’m still working on getting together those four good rounds like most of the top players do. And I’m not really pushing myself too hard because I know I’ve got a lot of years ahead of me.”
Oosthuizen’s knowledge of the Woodhill layout is limited only to a few practice rounds and the nine holes he played in last year’s Telkom PGA Championship. But he put in a call to defending champion Michiel Bothma, whose home course is Woodhill, and says he’s pleased with what he hears.
”Michiel says the course is looking really good.”
The qualifying for the tournament took place on Monday at the two courses of Modderfontein Golf Club and Kempton Park Golf Club, with 21 spots on offer at each venue.
American Cody Freeman and England’s David Dixon led the qualifying at Kempton Park with their rounds of five under par 66.
And at Modderfontein, Paul O’Donnell, Hanno de Weerd, Jeff Inglis, Nico le Grange and Jamie Johnson led the qualifying with their rounds of four under par 68. — Sapa