SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The rowdy behavior at TPC Scottsdale isn’t fazing Louis Oosthuizen, who’s simply happy to be outside, playing golf, and in contention at a PGA Tour event.
It had been almost two years since Oosthuizen and his family had been back to their native South Africa, and the group planned a trip around the holidays to get re-acquainted with friends and family. Unfortunately, what was expected to last a few weeks became almost two months.
“We went there in December and actually got stuck 20 days longer because we got COVID,” he said on Thursday after the opening round of the WM Phoenix Open. Oosthuizen fired a 67 and sat just two strokes behind the early leaders. “And so we were there for seven weeks, I didn’t even take my golf clubs. So I had a good break away from golf and came back and I’m ready for the season.”
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Although the extended stay could have sidetracked the opening of his season, the veteran Oosthuizen — who finished in the top three during four of the last five majors, but let each of them slip away — said he appreciated the extra time away from the game.
“It just sort of resets everything, you know, like especially I was quite tired at the end there, going into major weeks having chances to win and not pulling it off, that sort of drains you quite a bit. And I needed the break,” he said. “And four weeks would have been the trick for me, but seven weeks was nice.”
As for the chaos, Oosthuizen said he understands that fans have been pent up and looking for a release. He felt the same during his lengthy time overseas.
“Everyone is hungry and thirsty to be at any sporting event and have fun and watch some golf, so it’s really great to have fans back,” he said. “The first six months playing on Tour without any fans felt so weird, I felt like we were back in the juniors tournaments again and no one is really supporting you. It’s good fun just to see everyone here.”