Filed under: British Open
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Surprise. Intrigue. Newcomers. Proven veterans. Spry old guys. Play suspended, not by rain, but wind. Faltering favorites. Two days into the 150th British Open, golf’s oldest major championship is at St. Andrew, the game’s oldest course, hell bent on providing a show unlike any before.
It starts with the 36-hole leader, unknown South African Louis Oosthuizen. Just how unknown is he? After being invited into the media interview center after shooting 67 to go 12 under, the leader by five shots was welcomed as “Peter,” most likely confused with Peter Oosterhuis.
The confusion is understandable. The 27-year-old may have claimed his first European Tour victory earlier this year after four wins on the South African Tour, but when it comes to major championships he is a long way from recognized. In six previous starts the O-man has five missed cuts with his best finish being 73rd at the 2008 PGA Championship.
“Yeah, it wasn’t very great, was it?” Oosthuizen said of this record in the majors. “But it was a matter of not believing in myself, I think. Everyone around here is telling me, ‘you’ve got the shots, you’re playing well,’ and again, that win earlier this season just got my mind set in a different way.”
When the long day finally ended in darkness, there were plenty of golfers in need of a little mental adjustment.
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Pick your poison. Players, like Oosthuizen, who had drawn early tee times, went out in rain and wind. Those who began later played dry condition, but in WIND!!!
