Oosthuizen determined to deliver

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN believes he will not be distracted by the imminent arrival of his second child when he defends his Africa Open title this week.

The new European Tour season kicks off on Oosthuizen’s home soil in South Africa at the East London Golf Club this morning with the 2010 Open winner looking to retain the title he won in a play-off a year ago.

The 29-year-old overcame Spaniard Manuel Quiros and England’s Chris Wood then but is perhaps under more pressure this time around, with his wife Nel-Mare expecting their second child.

“It is always fun defending a title so I’m just hoping that the week runs smoothly and that I don’t get a phone call from Nel-Mare or the doctor telling me to come home,” Oosthuizen said on europeantour.com.

“But, funnily enough, sometimes it’s good to have your thoughts elsewhere and not solely on the golf. Of course, I’ll be focused on what I have to do on the course but in the back of my mind I’ll always be mentally checking on what’s going on at home.”

Oosthuizen insists last year’s win was particularly special.

“Obviously winning The Open was a dream come true for me but it was always a dream of mine as well to win a co-sanctioned tournament on The European Tour back home in South Africa,” he said.

“I had come close in the past at the Dunhill a few years back when Ernie (Els) won and in the SA Open the year James Kingston won, so to do it at East London last year was very satisfying.

“It’s a course where there are not a lot of driver holes and you should try and keep it low if you can. There are some tight fairways so you have to be careful, but it’s also a golf course where, if you take it on and succeed, you can really shoot low numbers. It is not a long course, it is all about position.”

Also in the low-key field are Oosthuizen’s compatriot Retief Goosen and 2011 runner-up Wood.

Damien McGrane is the only Irish competitor in action.