Oosthuizen atones for Masters heartache with three shot win

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen produced the perfect response to his play-off defeat at the Masters by claiming the Malaysian Open title yesterday.

The 29-year-old former Open champion, who missed out on a second major at Augusta when he lost a play-off to American Bubba Watson, finished 17 under par at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club – three shots ahead of Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.

Oosthuizen admitted yesterday the 30-hour journey from Georgia had made things tough, but he coped admirably with the jet-lag this week and carded four sub-70 rounds. He completed his third round (69) earlier yesterday after storms prevented him from doing so Saturday before keeping his cool to post a final-round 68.

“I thought I was going to be a lot more tired,” he said after clinching his fifth European Tour crown. “I played well. The game was there so it makes it a lot easier. I had a good week.

“This morning probably was a bit up and down – not going too well – but then I settled in a bit for the second 18.”

Oosthuizen held a one-shot lead overnight and began the day by producing a steady level-par end to his third round – bogeying 13 before gaining the shot back on 16. Gallacher briefly joined the leader with birdies on 15 and 16 but a bogey on 17 ensured it was Oosthuizen who led going into the final round. Birdies on three and five gave the South African daylight over Gallacher and, after his third bogey of the week at the par-four sixth set him back, he responded superbly. He held his nerve to sink testing putts for birdie on seven and 13 and then made the most of a slice of luck in narrowly avoiding the water on 16 to pick up another shot there and open up a comfortable cushion.

Asked if 2012 could turn out to be a “monster year” for him, he replied: “It probably would have been if I had the green jacket! But I had a good week last week and I’m looking forward to the next major, the US Open, and to the Players Championship in three weeks.”

The victory lifted Oosthuizen to second place in the European Tour Race to Dubai behind US Open champion Rory McIlroy.