Oosthuizen takes Houston control

Updated April 01, 2012 11:47:53

Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen birdied five of the last seven holes to charge two shots clear in the third round of the weather-delayed Houston Open in Humble, Texas.

The smooth-swinging South African recovered from bogeys on the first two holes to card a 6-under-par 66 at the rain-softened Redstone Golf Club in the final PGA Tour event before next week's Masters.

Oosthuizen, who romped to a seven-stroke victory at the 2010 British Open, launched his late surge with four consecutive birdies from the 12th to post a 17-under total of 199.

American Hunter Mahan was alone in second place after carding a 65, with Swede Carl Pettersson (67) and Great Britain's Brian Davis (69) a further stroke back at 14-under.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson was among a group of three players tied for sixth at 11-under after shooting a three-birdie 70.

John Senden was the best-placed Australian in a five-way share of ninth position on 10-under after posting a 3-under 69 in the third round.

For the second round in a row at Redstone, players were permitted to lift, clean and replace their balls on a course that had been saturated by more than an inch of rain on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, American Jeff Maggert birdied three of his last eight holes to grab a one-shot lead when the weather-delayed second round was finally completed at Redstone to get the tournament back on track.

Maggert went on to shoot 76 in the third round to finish a long day tied for 14th at 8-under.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted April 01, 2012 11:37:50

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Control brings Choi his biggest prize

Updated May 17, 2011 09:11:00

South Korean KJ Choi showed supreme control and focus as he beat American David Toms in a sudden-death playoff to become the first Asian golfer to win the Players Championship.

A birdie on the 17th looked to have given Choi victory in regulation but Toms ensured the event would go into extra time when he sunk a superb 17-foot putt on the last hole.

That could easily have been a momentum shifting putt but Choi kept calm, strolling purposely to the 17th tee for the playoff and making par while his rival bogeyed.

"When I started my day, one thing I told myself that I needed to do was to not get swept away by the cheers of the crowd, of the gallery, not get swept up in the pressure, by how other players were doing," he said.

"When David Toms made that putt on the 18th for birdie, the roar was as loud as something you would hear at the Masters.

"But I felt comfortable all day, with the whole situation and environment. I knew there were going to be a lot of the gallery cheering for David."

That was the case but in the end the applause was for 40-year-old Choi, a former world number five who remains a popular figure among golf's fans - including a Tennessee based supporters group - 'Choi's Bois'.

It was a miss from three-and-a-half feet on the 17th in the playoff that cost Toms and Choi said he knew as soon as the American struck the ball that victory was his.

"David's putt was down-slope and I could tell it was a difficult one because when I practiced it I saw that it was a difficult lie, the greens are bumpy there. I knew it wasn't going to be easy," he said.

"I noticed when he made his putt that at impact, his follow through on his stroke was a little bit bigger than it should have been.

"When he missed that putt, at that moment, as a fellow player, I felt very sorry for him because I know how that feels."

Throughout the round it was clear Choi was in no danger of melting under pressure and, when asked to provide suggestions for young players, he revealed the mentality that has allowed him to win eight times on the PGA Tour, a record for any Asian player.

"You have to really be able to maintain your lifestyle. You have to be very regimented to have a long career out here on the tour," he said.

"I was able to do that, to main myself physically and mentally very well. I always felt I had the confidence, I train hard and practice hard.

"I think you need to live your life to the fullest. When I say that, I don't mean partying all the time. Live a systematic, regimented life and always be humble. That is my motto."

- Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted May 17, 2011 09:00:00

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