From Asian Tour
Louis Oosthuizen ended 2023 with two fine victories on the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour, and it appears that could signify the start of something big this season as he ominously moved into a share of the third-round lead on Saturday in the $2-million International Series Oman.
He carded a five-under-par 67 at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat, to take pole position on 12-under with Mexican Carlos Ortiz, who shot a 68.
Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, in with the best round of the day – a 65 – was a shot further back in a tie for third with Filipino Justin Quiban (67), Travis Smyth (68) from Australia, Chinese amateur Sampson Zheng (68) and American Peter Uihlein (70).
Halfway leader Mito Pereira from Chile had a poor day, signing for a 76 to tumble down the leaderboard and end on seven under, in a tie for 15th .
South Africa’s Oosthuizen won the Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open back-to-back in December and made his move in the third round, clearly enjoying the challenge that Al Mouj Golf – voted by the Asian Tour players as the joint best course last year – offers.
“I played well,” said the 41-year-old, winner of The Open in 2010 and also a runner-up in six other majors and third in two more.
“The greens are very firm. It’s good, they are running true. You need to really focus on where you want to land that second shot, so hitting fairways is very important.
“I am hitting it very well. I am still struggling a bit on the greens, finding the right lines, my speed and lines aren’t matching up but with the greens as good as this it’s a good test.”
On a day when the wind picked up slightly, he went expertly bogey-free and has only made one bogey through 54 holes, the fifth on day one.
He added: “When it is like this I try and hit as many greens in regulation. When it’s like this and not really going to the pin you pick out a position on the green and give yourself some kind of putt. I like when it’s tough like this, when you need to think your way around the golf course.”
He also won on the LIV Golf League last year when his Stinger GC team triumphed in Tulsa.
Dean Burmester, a member of that team, added a one-under-par 71 to his tally to move to seven-under for the tournament and a share of 15th.
Jbe’ Kruger had a 69 and Branden Grace a 71 to move to five-under and a share of 25th.
