Oosthuizen recovers from Masters disappointment in style
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen produced the perfect response to his play-off defeat at the Masters last Sunday by claiming the Malaysian Open title today.
The 29-year-old former Open champion, who missed out on a second Major at Augusta when he lost a play-off to American Bubba Watson at Augusta, finished 17-under-par at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club - three shots ahead of Scotland's Stephen Gallacher.
Oosthuizen admitted yesterday that the 30-hour journey from Georgia had made things tough, but he coped admirably with the jet-lag this week and carded four sub-70 rounds.
He completed his third round (69) earlier today after storms prevented him from doing so yesterday before keeping his cool to post a final-round four-under 68.
The victory lifted Oosthuizen to second place in the European Tour Race to Dubai behind US Open champion Rory McIlroy.
Oosthuizen held a one-shot lead overnight and began the day by producing a steady level-par end to his third round - bogeying 13 before gaining the shot back on 16.
Gallacher briefly joined the leader with birdies on 15 and 16 but a bogey on 17 ensured it was Oosthuizen who led going into the final round.
Oosthuizen continued where he left off as he sought a fifth European Tour crown, and birdies on three and five gave him daylight over Gallacher.
His third bogey of the week at the sixth hole set him back, but he responded superbly. He kept his cool to sink testing putts for birdie on seven and 13 and then made the most of a slice of luck in narrowly avoiding the water on 16 to pick up another shot there and open up a comfortable cushion.
Gallacher remained the nearest challenger throughout and signed off with a bogey-free final round of 70, but could not close the gap.
England's Danny Willett (71), Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello (71) and American David Lipsky (70) were tied for third on 12 under.
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