/ 22 July 2010

Oosthuizen celebrates Open win with new tractor

British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen has shunned the glamour of a new Ferrari or Porsche and instead spent some of his winnings on a custom-built tractor.

“I’ll have a kiddie seat on it for my daughter Jana,” the 27-year-old South African told reporters in Sweden on Wednesday, on the eve of the Scandinavian Masters at the Bro Hof Slott course near Stockholm.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun. I bought the tractor for my farm. Being a farm boy it was one of my big dreams.

Oosthuizen, who won at St Andrews by seven strokes, also enjoyed another concession to his new-found fame and riches.

“Flying in this morning by private jet … It’s all starting to sink in,” he said.

Oosthuizen appeared to be still a little stunned by his first major success, however, adding: “I got a call from Mr Greg Norman and he said something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“He said I am the first person to get him to watch a full round of golf on television. He watched my first shot [on Sunday] to my last and couldn’t leave the couch.”

Oosthuizen was sure last week’s overwhelming success, which pushed him up the world rankings from 54 to 15, would keep him at a higher level.

“Confidence-wise it’s going to help,” he said. “I now tee it up every round knowing I am good enough. When you win one [major] you start looking for your second, then third, you never stop.

The South African is joined at the Scandinavian Masters by Sweden’s 2008 European number one Robert Karlsson, who finished tied 15th at the British Open.

Britain’s Robert Rock, tied seventh at St Andrews, is the second highest British Open finisher in the field. — Reuters