Chalk it up as one other victory for LIV Golf.
Not solely did the Saudi-backed circuit rating a giant win by signing Jon Rahm final week, however the league now has 4 straight winners on the DP World Tour after this week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen emerged victorious at Leopard Creek Nation Membership, the place climate delayed the ultimate spherical into Monday. He carded a closing spherical 3-under 69 to win by two pictures over fellow South African Charl Schwartzel.
“This is without doubt one of the tournaments that I’ve at all times needed to win,” Oosthuizen mentioned after the win.
“The golf course was unbelievable. I can’t consider we bought a fourth spherical in with every part we bought. It’s such an excellent place to come back to, and this can be a event that I actually, actually needed.”
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Oosthuizen and Schwartzel, enjoying within the closing pairing collectively, bought seven holes in on Sunday earlier than thunder and lightning suspended play for the rest of the day.
The 2 main champions then needed to play their closing 11 holes on a saturated course on Monday. They have been neck and neck for many of the morning, after which they arrived on the par-5 thirteenth.
Oosthuizen made a protracted birdie putt, whereas Schwartzel made a par.
It was extra of the identical on the subsequent gap, the par-4 14th. The 2010 Champion Golfer of the Yr made one other lengthy birdie putt, whereas the 2011 Masters champion settled for one more par.
Oosthuizen then made a simple birdie on the par-5 fifteenth, thus extending his result in three pictures with three holes to play.
“I had a superb run there by means of 13 to fifteen,” Oosthuizen mentioned.
“I’m glad to see [Schwartzel] with all of the issues he was going by means of along with his shoulder with accidents. He’s enjoying effectively, and I simply bought fortunate on this one.”
The remainder of the best way, nevertheless, was not essentially easy crusing.
On the par-4 seventeenth, Oosthuizen couldn’t save par, and thus dropped a shot. So when he arrived on the par-5 18th, he held a two-shot lead over Schwartzel.
His drive then kicked off a tree and into the creek. The drama intensified throughout South Africa as Oosthuizen’s lead hung within the steadiness. But, he nonetheless managed to make a par, thus securing his tenth profession DP World Tour victory—and his first in 5 years.
His enjoying companion, in the meantime, couldn’t take benefit, as he, too, made a par on the 72nd gap. Schwartzel closed with a 1-under 71.
Nevertheless it was one other profitable occasion for LIV Golf gamers.
Dean Burmester received the earlier two occasions in South Africa, the Joburg Open and the South African Open. Then, in Australia, Chilean Joaquin Niemann fended off Min Woo Lee to win the Australian Open title.
General, LIV gamers have received 4 of 5 occasions to start the 2024 season on the DP World Tour. The Saudi-backed circuit is successful on and off the course to shut out 2023—maybe essentially the most tumultuous yr in males’s skilled golf historical past.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.