Tag: Louis Oosthuizen

Playing links golf for just the second time, Scottie Scheffler again in position to win first title at British Open

Scheffler canned a 15-footer for par on his final hole Friday, putting him in a tie for fourth through 36 holes.

There’s always a first time.

For Scottie Scheffler, his initial encounter with links golf came last week in the Scottish Open. The Texas lad quickly adapted to the different style of the game at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, finishing in a tie for 12th.

And now, a few days later in the British Open at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England, he’s in position to win his first major and break his PGA Tour maiden.

Scheffler canned a 15-footer for par on his final hole Friday and has put together rounds of 67-66 that has left him in a tie for fourth through 36 holes, four shots behind pace-setter Louis Oosthuizen.

“Last week was actually my first time to the United Kingdom, so I’m pretty fresh over here,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it so far. The weather has been good. I really like links golf and it’s been fun coming out here, playing, seeing, creating shots, really just having fun.

“I really didn’t change much. I just had to figure out how I play shots on this grass. I never played on this type of grass before. That was the biggest adjustment. I’ve always done well on courses that are firm and fast, and so I wasn’t too worried about coming over to play links golf the first time. Just needed to figure out the bunkers and the grass around the greens.”

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The last player to win the British Open in their debut was Ben Curtis in 1993 – at Royal St. George’s. Despite his lack of experience, Scheffler sounds like an old veteran when asked about his approach to playing Royal St. George’s.

“First things first, you got to get the ball in the fairway, especially on a new golf course where I’m not as in tune to where and where not to put my golf ball,” Scheffler, 25, said. “So, getting the ball in play is really important. I feel like I’ve gotten a really good feel for the positions on this golf course and where I need to attack and kind of play a little bit safe.

“I feel like my game is trending in the right direction this week.”

It’s been trending in the right direction for some time. Scheffler has been knocking on the door named victory for nearly two years. And it seems the bigger the stage, the bigger the tall Texan’s game gets.

This year he finished in a tie for fifth in the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship, lost to Billy Horschel in the final of the WGC-Match Play, and finished third in the Memorial.

His major record isn’t shabby, either. He tied for fourth in the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, tied for 18th in this year’s Masters, tied for eighth in the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island and tied for seventh in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

The collegiate and amateur standout who is ranked No. 19 in the world has come accustomed to answering questions about his thoughts of winning his first PGA Tour title.

“I kind of think (about) that going into every tournament,” he said. “I’m always looking to try and win golf tournaments, and it’s nice to be able to put myself in a position to win this one. We’re only halfway there. I think I’m four shots back going into the weekend, so I got a lot of work to do.”

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Louis Oosthuizen’s golf equipment at 2021 British Open

Take a look at the equipment Louis Oosthuizen is using at Royal St. George’s during the 2021 British Open.

A complete list of the golf equipment Louis Oosthuizen is using at Royal St. George’s during the 2021 British Open:

DRIVER: Ping G400 (9 degrees set at 8.75), with Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S shaft

FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade SIM2 (15 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Red 7 X shaft (TaylorMade SIM2 fairway woods from $399.99 at taylormadegolf.com and dickssportinggoods.com)

IRONS: Ping Blueprint (3-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts  

WEDGES: Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth (50 degrees bent to 48, 54 degrees bent to 55), Glide Forged Pro prototype (60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Black shafts 

PUTTER: Ping Vault 2.0 Voss

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

GRIPS: SwitchGrips ER

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Louis Oosthuizen still shining, leads Collin Morikawa and others after second round at British Open

One day after shooting a 64 that he considered to be a perfect round at Royal St. George’s, Louis Oosthuizen was nearly as good on Friday.

One day after shooting a 64 that he considered to be a perfect round at Royal St. George’s, Louis Oosthuizen was nearly as good on Friday. The 38-year-old South African made an eagle at 14 en route to shooting 5-under 65 and building a two-stroke lead over Colin Morikawa at the halfway point of the 149th British Open in Sandwich, England.

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, has finished runner up at six majors, including twice this year, since hoisting the Claret Jug at The Old Course at St. Andrews 11 years ago. That year, he started with a 65, improved to 12 under at the midway point and raced to a seven-stroke victory.

Brilliant sunshine, part of a stretch of a streak of good weather rarely associated with the Open Championship, and a lack of wind led to record-low scoring so far. Oosthuizen’s fast start of 11-under 129 this week – he didn’t make a bogey until his 33rd hole of the championship – shattered the previous low 36-hole championship score of 130, and was just a stroke off the all-time 36-hole scoring mark at majors.

“I only heard that when I walked in, so I wasn’t aware of what it even was before. Yeah, to have any record at the Open or part of any record at the Open is always very special,” Oosthuizen said. “It was as good a weather as you can get playing this golf course. All of us took advantage of that.”

That includes Morikawa, 24, who is making his British Open debut. He played on the firm, sandy-based linksland at the Scottish Open last week for the first time and realized he needed to make an adjustment to his bag. Morikawa, who ranks first on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, switched out his 7- through 9-iron and it paid quick dividends.

“Those are three crucial clubs that are some of my favorite clubs,” he said. “My 8-iron is my favorite club in the bag, and when I wasn’t able to hit it last week well, I knew I had to try something different.”

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Morikawa delivered a masterful ballstriking performance in the morning wave. With birdies on seven of his first 14 holes, he threatened to equal or break the record for the lowest round ever shot in a men’s major before signing for a 6-under-par 64 and a 36-hole total of 9-under 131. With a swing that a BBC announcer described as “slower than a January in Ireland,” Morikawa has taken quickly to the quirky Royal St. George’s layout.

“Being creative is what I do,” he said. “I love to work the ball. Love to figure out different heights you have to hit it, see different windows. That what’s links golf does and what it tests. I think it fits right into my pocket.”

Creativity is a hallmark of Spieth, who followed up Thursday’s 65 with a 3-under 67 in the second round to shoot consecutive rounds in the 60s for the fifth time in a major. Three of those previous four times he’s done so he’s gone on to win (T-3 at the 2019 PGA Championship on the other occasion).

“It was a round that could’ve been pretty special,” said Spieth, who began with birdies on three of the first four holes and enters the weekend alone in third place at 8-under 132. “I like where I’m at and I just have to hole a few more putts.”

Reigning U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm of Spain found his stride on Friday. He rebounded from an opening 1-over 71 with a bogey-free performance in the second round to improve to 5-under 135 in a tie with Brooks Koepka. Rahm had a 20-foot putt for birdie to shoot 63, but left it short and settled for matching Morikawa for the low round of the day as did Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, who nearly holed out his approach at 18 for eagle.

“I think I take 64 for any round in a major,” Grillo said. “I think I’ll take 64 any day, even play with my friends.”

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson remains in the hunt after shooting 65 to improve to 7-under 133 in a tie for fourth with American Scottie Scheffler (66) and South African Dylan Frittelli (67).

Defending Open champion Shane Lowry fired 65 to make the cut comfortably at 4-under 136. Among those to sneak into the weekend play on the cutline of 1-over 141 were Bryson DeChambeau (70) and Rickie Fowler (72). Reigning PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson and Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed – both ranked in the top 10 in the world – are among the big names that have the weekend off.

Oosthuizen has set a record pace, but he’s had too many close calls at majors to be caught looking ahead.

“The game is good, but I know it’s a really good leaderboard,” he said. “I have to play good golf this weekend if I want to come out first.”

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With conditions on the favorable side, players get the better of quirky Royal St. George’s in first round of British Open

Plenty of sunshine, manageable breezes and a yielding links led to plenty of red numbers on the famous yellow British Open scoreboards.

Plenty of sunshine, short sleeves, manageable breezes and a yielding links ruled most of the first day of the 149th edition of the British Open and led to the famous yellow scoreboards turning brighter with red numbers.

With the nearby sea far from angry during the better part of Thursday’s first round, players got the better of quirky Royal St. George’s until conditions toughened as the afternoon turned to evening.

Louis Oosthuizen, who has finished runner-up in the past two majors, stood on top of the leaderboards with a 6-under-par 64. The 2010 Open champion at St. Andrews began with seven consecutive pars before heating up with six birdies in his last 11 holes.

“Probably in my mind the perfect round I could have played,” Oosthuizen said. “I didn’t make many mistakes. When I had good opportunities for birdie, I made the putts. Just a very good solid round.

“Number one, on this golf course it’s hit the fairway. You’re not going to be able to do much from the rough here or the fairway bunkers. If you aren’t comfortable with a driver around this golf course, then don’t be scared laying further back, as long as you can get in the fairway.”

British Open: Tee times, TV | Major payouts | Photos

Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, who won the Claret Jug in 2017, turned in a 65 and was joint second with Brian Harman, who has missed the cut in his last four starts in the British Open.

“I’ve really loved this tournament,” Spieth said. “Played well here, whether I’ve come in in form or not. I think (links golf) brings a lot of the feel aspect into the game. “I shorten swings up over here and hit more punch shots and just stuff that I probably should be doing at home. I get less swing-focused and more shot-focused over here because the second you take your brain off what you’re hitting, you may not find your ball.”

Among five players at 66 were 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink and 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson. A large group at 67 included 2020 PGA champion Collin Morikawa, 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood. Fourteen more players were at 68, including world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Viktor Hovland and Paul Casey.

With the course softened by a wet summer in southeast England, players weren’t at the mercy of the usually unpredictable and wild bounces on the rugged, bumpy landscape. And the forecast is far from frightening, with dry conditions expected through the end of the final round with winds stiffening throughout each day.

At the first day’s end, 48 of the 156 players were under par. The field averaged 70.53, one of the lowest scoring days in the championship’s history. Among those who didn’t take advantage of the better conditions included world No. 2 and reigning U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm and 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, both who came in with 71.

DeChambeau drew post-round attention to himself with a comment about his driver (more specifically that “the driver sucks,”) to which Cobra later responded.

With tee times spread out over 14½ hours, however, some players ended up on the wrong side of the draw. As the day aged, temperatures dropped a few degrees and the wind velocity increased a few mph.

Webb Simpson, with a 66, turned in the best score among the late starters.

“I felt like a day when the wind is gusting and blowing this much, it’s hard to make all your four- to seven-footers for par, and I did that today,” he said. “And capitalized on the shorter holes.”

But reigning PGA champion Phil Mickelson, who teed off at 2:48 local time, said ahead of the tournament he had no idea how he would play. Well, Mickelson, who tied for second in 2011 that last time Royal St. George’s hosted the Open, didn’t make a birdie and shot 80.

World No. 3 Justin Thomas shot 72, four-time major winner and 2014 Open champion Rory McIlroy a 70, 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed a 72 and world No. 7 Patrick Cantlay a 74.

“It was a tricky afternoon. The conditions got pretty rough there in the middle of the round,” McIlroy said. “The wind got up and I made a few bogeys in a row, so sort of said to myself at the turn if I could get back to even-par for the day I would be happy. To birdie the last hole and get back to even-par, yeah, it’s nice to finish like that. Looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.”

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British Open: Runners-up in consecutive majors doesn’t deter Louis Oosthuizen, who shoots 64 to lead

A strong start is an encouraging sign for Oosthuizen’s chances to be in the Claret Jug hunt after contending in past two majors.

Louis Oosthuizen didn’t have any trouble putting behind the frustration and disappointment of yet another runner-up finish at the U.S. Open last month. On Thursday, he jumped straight to the top of the British Open’s famous yellow leaderboard, shooting 6-under 64, one stroke better than Americans Brian Harman and Jordan Spieth and tying the lowest opening round in an Open at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England (1985, Christy O’Connor Jr.).

“Probably in my mind the perfect round I could have played,” he said. “I didn’t make many mistakes.”

A strong start is an encouraging sign for Oosthuizen’s chances to be in the Claret Jug hunt. The two previous times he opened with a round in the 60s at the Open, he won in 2010 and lost in a playoff in 2015. The playoff loss to Zach Johnson at St. Andrews stung for a long time, but Oosthuizen, who has finished second six times in majors, has proven to be a tough, resilient foe and he’s figured a way to bounce back from defeats that have broken lesser men.

“I tried to take a few days and just try and forget about it and see if I can get myself ready for the next one,” Oosthuizen said.

Louis Oosthuizen, British Open
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen reacts on the 18th green after his first round 64 on day one of The 149th British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George’s, Sandwich in south-east England on July 15, 2021. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN)

He’s also played in enough majors – this was his 165th round at a major and just his second bogey-free round (second round, 2017 PGA Championship) – to learn the importance of patience, a quality he said was indispensable at a venue like Royal St. George’s. Oosthuizen began the rigorous opening stretch with a string of pars. In fact, there were few signs that a 64 was in the making as the South African made seven straight pars out of the gate.

“I think I probably would have taken seven pars again,” he said. “I’ve learnt over the years playing major championships that patience is the key thing, and even if you make bogeys, know that a lot of people are going to make bogeys.”

But once he broke the seal, Oosthuizen took advantage of soft conditions and peeled off five birdies in a seven-hole stretch.

“All of a sudden just made two good putts on 8 and 9 and got the ball rolling,” he said. “It happened quickly.”

Oosthuizen’s patience extends to his equipment. He used to change putters as often as a medical professional changed surgical gloves, but he’s settled on a Ping Voss putter that has been a godsend. He took just 25 putts in the opening round. All the putters from his days of playing musical chairs? Their days are numbered and for good reason. Oosthuizen has improved from No. 121 in strokes gained: putting in 2018 to first this season.

“I’ve got a bag there at home that I might just throw in a river someday,” he said. “Every week we were trying something. I realized quickly that there’s no way to find any consistency in putting if you do that.”

On Thursday, Oosthuizen had all systems firing: He flighted his irons well, controlled his distance and rolled his rock to an early lead and put the field on notice that he’s tired of being a bridesmaid.

“It’s surprising that he hasn’t held a claret jug or any major trophy for some time,” Golf Channel’s Justin Leonard said.

Eleven years after a dominating seven-stroke triumph at St. Andrews, Oosthuizen displayed the patience of a man who knows that the chase for major glory always is a marathon, but it doesn’t hurt to sprint quickly out of the gate.

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With new irons, same old Jordan Spieth lights it up at British Open

The three-time major winner once again unleashed his supreme links talents on Thursday, this time using new equipment.

New irons, same Jordan Spieth in the Old World.

The three-time major winner, whose magical Sunday back nine at Royal Birkdale in 2017 earned him his Claret Jug, once again unleashed his supreme links talents on Thursday in the first round of the 149th playing of the British Open.

Using Titleist’s latest version of its new T100 irons and relying on his old reliable Scotty Cameron putter, Spieth signed for a 5-under-par 65 at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England, and took up residence high up on the famous yellow leaderboards bright with red numbers.

It should be noted that Spieth also opened with a 65 at Royal Birkdale. This 65 put him one shot behind clubhouse leader and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who has finished in ties for second in the past two major championships. Joining Spieth at 65 was Brian Harman, who missed the cut in his most recent four starts in the British Open.

Reigning Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry shot 71.

“I’ve really loved this tournament,” Spieth said. “Played well here, whether I’ve come in in form or not.”

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On a pleasant day that broke with sunshine and featured stiff but manageable breezes, Spieth gave a clinic in how to plays links golf – attack when the wind is at your back, flight the ball accordingly, use an assortment of clubs off the tees to get in prime position, successfully scramble when you get out of position.

And take advantage of softened greens running a tad on the slower side.

Spieth made four consecutive birdies starting at the fifth and went out in 3-under 32. He added back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 and finished his round with a solid 4-footer for par. On the day, he made four putts outside of 20 feet.

Spieth, who was one shot out of a playoff in 2015 at St. Andrews and finished in a tie for fourth then tied for ninth in 2018 at Carnoustie, said he immediately fell in love with links golf in his first trip across the pond in 2007.

He calls on his imagination required to conquer links courses, doesn’t shy from crafting creative shots in the heavy air and doesn’t fear the large sloping greens.

“I think (links golf) brings a lot of the feel aspect into the game,” said Spieth, who has eight top-10s this year and has risen from 92nd in the world rankings to 23rd. “I think I shorten swings up over here and hit more punch shots and just stuff that I probably should be doing at home. I get less swing-focused and more shot-focused over here because the second you take your brain off what you’re hitting, you may not find your ball.”

Spieth, who ended his victory drought earlier this year when he won the Valero Texas Open, his first win since the 2017 Open Championship, had just one concern heading to the first tee – rust. He hadn’t played since the U.S. Open.

“I felt pretty good about the work that I had done over the last, say, week and a half or so, but when you haven’t played for a little while, you come into a difficult track, you can have a bit of rust early, and I was a little bit concerned about that,” Spieth said. “I think midway through the front nine today kind of turning under par was just big to feel like hey, we’re in the thick of things.”

Spieth has certainly turned the corner after grinding through a dry spell when he was stuck on 11 PGA Tour titles for nearly four years. He’ll tell you he’s still grinding; but now it just feels better when your work produces rewards inside the gallery ropes.

“The path that I’m on and where I’ve been before in the game, I feel really good about my chances going forward, as good as they have been historically,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been trending the right way and certainly had a chance this year already at Augusta. I like where I’m at.

“Golf is a game played between the ears, right. When it’s not going great, you can certainly lose quite a bit of confidence in it. That was the first time I’ve had to really try and build confidence back up, and it takes time. It’s a combination of obviously getting things figured out mechanically but also then putting it to the test and mentally stepping up with enough oomph to go ahead and pull off some shots, and that’s how you build the confidence.

“By no means do I feel like I’m where I want to be mechanically yet, but this year has been a really, really good progression for me, and that’s all I’m trying to do is just get a little bit better each day.”

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British Open: Why Louis Oosthuizen may be poised to break bridesmaid string and drink from the Claret Jug again

Louis Oosthuizen on finishing runner-up at majors six times since winning the 2010 British Open: “It’s good and horrible. I think it would be a lot worse if I didn’t have a major.”

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When Louis Oosthuizen won the 2010 British Open at The Old Course at St. Andrews, he treated the Claret Jug as if it were a holy vessel and one of the 10 Commandments had been thou shall not drink from the silver trophy.

“It was such a special thing, I didn’t want to,” he explained. “I didn’t think it was the right thing.”

His friends back home in South Africa had other ideas.

“In December (of 2010), I had some mates over at my house and I didn’t really have a choice. They said, ‘We’re drinking out of it whether you drink out of it or not,” Oosthuizen recalled on The Open Podcast.

They took turns drinking brandy and Coke, a South African favorite, Champagne and red wine. But since that runaway performance at St. Andrews, Oosthuizen has suffered his share of major misery. His runner-up finish to Spain’s Jon Rahm at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June marked his sixth time as a bridesmaid, and second straight major being close but no cigar. (He finished two strokes behind Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship in May.)

“It’s good and horrible,” Oosthuizen said on the Open podcast, which was recorded in 2020 before his latest close calls. “I think it would be a lot worse if I didn’t have a major.”

On the eve of the 149th British Open, Oosthuizen said, “You do feel a little disappointed afterwards, but I was outplayed by – with both of those majors this year, and just fell short. I can just do what I do and try and just go one better when I get to the next major.”

British Open: Tee times, TV | Odds and picks | Major payouts

One of the runner-up finishes that still stings happened at the 2015 Open at St. Andrews, where Zach Johnson pipped him in a three-man playoff.

“I still can’t believe it. I felt like no one could beat me around that golf course. I thought I was going to get it done,” Oosthuizen said.

To have a chance to win on the back nine on Sunday is all a player can hope for and then let the cards fall where they may. Oosthuizen watched the clutch putts that Rahm holed on the final two greens at Torrey and recognized that it was Rahm’s day. He still believes his time will come and he’s confident in his routine and plans to stick with what has been working pretty darn well, if not well enough.

“If it was a case where I completely collapsed the last four or five holes or something like that, it would be something I would look into a lot more. Like speak to someone. I might not be mentally strong enough or somewhere in my game and the pressure collapsed, but in those two cases,” he said, referring to the PGA and U.S. Open this year, “I don’t think that was the case. I played really well. Yeah, I hit an errant shot on 17 (at Torrey Pines), I took it on off the tee, but I was in it the whole time.

“If I can put myself in that position again and just try and aim better, I would be that insane person and try and do the same thing.”

NBC commentator Gary Koch agrees with Oosthuizen’s approach.

“If I was his sports psychologist, I’d be telling him to keep doing what he’s doing,” Koch said. “He keeps putting himself in position.”

“The one thing I would tell him is almost try and elongate the week,” said 1997 British Open champion Justin Leonard. “He seems to play beautiful golf at the first part of the week to get himself in position. Sunday hasn’t been his best day, so almost think of this week as maybe going a month long and make it into a four-week tournament where yes, he’s got a few days off in between or maybe a week off, but try and look further down the road so that come Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon when he’s teeing off, he doesn’t feel like he’s looking at the finish line but it’s more of the longer term process.”

The reason why Oosthuizen may contend yet again this week for the Claret Jug is his putting prowess. Always blessed with a beautiful swing, his putter held him back from being one of the elite players but not anymore.

“I always felt like I had too many days with my putting where it was hot and cold, and you can’t get a consistency,” he admitted. “I went back to a few things that I did as an amateur really and looked at a few things I did playing in 2010, the way I was putting, especially the week of The Open.”

This season, Oosthuizen ranks first in Strokes Gained: Putting. It’s why no one would be surprised to see him sipping out of the Claret Jug once more.

“It feels like a lifetime ago,” he said.

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A NBC affiliate picked a hilarious time to break into a weather update during U.S. Open

What timing.

I’m going to start this off by saying right up front that severe weather updates on TV can be very helpful and can keep people safe and that I’m all in favor of keeping people safe.

But we need to talk about this weather update from WHO 13 News in Des Moines, Iowa during Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open because the timing was hilarious. Well, in the moment I wouldn’t have been to fond of it but today I can’t stop watching this clip below.

Let me set the scene: Louis Oosthuizen was putting for par on the 17th hole and was trailing Jon Rahm by one stroke. A par would mean he’d just need a birdie on 18 to force a playoff.

So Oosthuizen took dead aim, struck his putt, and as the ball rolled to the hole this happened:

I mean, that’s some amazing timing.

Oosthuizen missed that putt and then made birdie on 18 to lose by a stroke.

Twitter had reactions to that video:

U.S. Open: Louis Oosthuizen ‘frustrated’ and ‘disappointed’ after yet another runner-up finish

Louis Oosthuizen was the bridesmaid yet again.

SAN DIEGO – Louis Oosthuizen was the bridesmaid yet again.

The South African, who began the final round as one of three co-leaders, shot even-par 71 at Torrey Pines’ South Course to finish at 5-under 279, one stroke behind winner Jon Rahm at the 121st U.S. Open. It was his sixth runner-up in a major since winning the 2010 British Open nearly 11 years ago, and second straight having finished two strokes behind Phil Mickelson last month at the PGA Championship.

“Look, it’s frustrating. It’s disappointing. I’m playing good golf, but it’s not – winning a major is not just going to happen. You need to go out and play good golf,” he said. “I played good today, but I didn’t play good enough.”

The 38-year-old Oosthuizen opened with rounds of 67-71-70 and canned a 30-foot eagle at 18 on Saturday to share the 54-hole lead. A bogey at the fifth hole on Sunday dropped him out of the lead, but Oosthuizen never panicked.

“This golf course, there’s a lot of things that can go sideways quickly,” he said. “So, you need to keep focus and play well, and be calm.”

U.S. Open: Leaderboard | Photos | Prize money | Winner’s bag

Birdies at Nos. 9 and 10 built a two-stroke lead for Oosthuizen, but that would be his last circle on the card until it was too late. He made a bogey at No. 11 and poured in clutch par putts at Nos. 12 and 13 as Rahm emerged as his chief competitor. His birdie-birdie finish wrapped up a 4-under 67 and the clubhouse lead at 6-under.

Oosthuizen’s fate was sealed at the par-4 17th when the fader of the ball pulled his tee shot into the canyon and had to take a penalty stroke, leading to a bogey.

U.S. Open
Louis Oosthuizen reacts after yelling fore on his tee shot from the 14th tee during the final round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)

“I knew it was a crucial hole for me to take it on and give myself a birdie opportunity. I didn’t pull it off, but standing on that tee again, I’ll probably do the same thing, taking a driver and taking the shot on,” he said. “I feel like I had my shots, I went for it, and that’s what you have to do to win majors. Sometimes it goes your way, and other times it doesn’t.”

Falling to 4 under meant Oosthuizen needed an eagle at 18 to tie Rahm and his tee shot nestled in the right rough, forcing a layup and a hole out to tie. Oosthuizen made birdie, but it wasn’t enough to stall the engraving of Rahm’s name on the U.S. Open trophy.

“I played good. Just fell a little short again,” Oosthuizen said. “It was Jon played a great round of golf, 4-under today on that golf course is a really good score. I could see early on what was happening with the leaderboard at the end and knew that I need to push at the end to do something.”

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U.S. Open 2021: Equipment used by the contenders at Torrey Pines

Check out the gear U.S. Open contenders like Mackenzie Hughes, Russell Henley, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau are using.

SAN DIEGO — Heading into the final round of the 121st U.S. Open, there were eight golfers who were either in the lead or within three shots of the lead. Three were past major champions and five had yet to win a major title. All of them were going to feel the pressure of the toughest tournament in golf.

To help them handle that pressure, each golfer had to trust his swing and his equipment. Sunday at the U.S. Open is no time to second guess your gear.

Below is a complete list of the golf equipment Mackenzie Hughes, Russell Henley, Louis Oosthuizen, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffeler, Jon Rahm and Matthew Wolff had in their bag Sunday at Torrey Pines.

U.S. Open: Leaderboard | Photos