by Jeff Skinner
Each day The Open Championship has given us something shocking. On day one it wasn’t just John Daly’s pants, it was his play also. His opening round 66 brought back memories of ’95. On Friday The Old Course itself was the story of the day. With a morning rain giving way to an afternoon wind that halted play and ballooned players’ scores to well above par. On Saturday there was a surprise of a different kind.
The entire golf world was waiting for the second round leader, Louis Oosthuizen to succumb to the pressure of leading his first major. Oosthuizen had his own plan. He would try and control his emotions and play the same steady game that had put him in the lead.
After an opening hole bogey he played splendid golf, hitting fairways and greens and showing a clutch putting stroke that should keep him in good stead for the final round.
Oosthuizen started the day with a five stroke lead and only Paul Casey was able to pick up any strokes on that gap. Casey shot a 67 to leave him four strokes back and the only real contender to what looks to be Oosthuizen’s Claret Jug.
It remains to be seen if the first time major leader can withstand the pressure of holding a big lead going into the final round. It was only one month ago that Dustin Johnson imploded at the start of the last round of the U.S. Open.
Oosthuizen showed no signs of nerves on Saturday but Sunday will be a different test. It’s The Open Championship and it’s his to win. All he needs is one more solid round to fulfill his dream of an Open Championship at the home of golf.
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