With his wife and 7-month-old daughter looking on, Louis Oosthuizen raised one of the most coveted trophies in sports, the Claret Jug. Oosthuizen's 71 at today's final round of the Open Championship at St. Andrews earned him his first career major title and caused many to wonder whether he is the next star of the PGA.
Once again, Oosthuizen, who finished the tournament at 16 under par, navigated the course with ease, hitting big shot after big shot with his incredibly sound swing. After Paul Casey took a triple bogey on the 12th hole, there was no doubt that Oosthuizen would take the championship home to South Africa.
Oosthuizen's victory is yet another piece of an amazing summer of sports in South Africa, which hosted its first FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 11. Oosthuzien's caddy, Zack Rasego, helped this friend to the championship. The two men, both from humble backgrounds, have been together for seven years, showing the world how far South Africa has come as they, a white golfer and a black caddy, have worked together to achieve a common dream. And to make matters even more special for South Africa, they did it on Nelson Mandela's birthday, too.
What a great accomplishment for Oosthuizen, who was not on the golf radar in the United States four days ago, and what a great summer for South Africa, where the political turmoil and human rights abuses of Apartheid made such success and jubilation unimaginable just 16 years ago. The Good Lord is surely at work in South Africa.
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