EUROPEAN TOUR SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS:FORGET FAST cars and the glamorous trimmings associated with becoming golf's latest major champion. With a cool €1 million in prize money burning a hole in his back pocket, Louis Oosthuizen shunned the Ferrari forecourt and instead bought himself a custom-built John Deere tractor.
It’s becoming apparent the new British Open champion isn’t like your “normal” star of the fairways, despite the new riches and countless endorsement deals which lie in wait. It’s less of the glitz and glamour and a lot more of the down-to-earth – even literally.
Though the South African, of humble background, could have spent the windfall on just about anything he wanted, the tractor was the purchase of choice.
“I’ll have a kiddie seat on it for my daughter, Jana,” explained Oosthuizen ahead of today’s Scandinavian Masters at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club near Stockholm. “I bought the tractor for my farm. Being a farm boy it was one of my big dreams. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
It’s a far cry from the typical sort of “boys toys” other top golfers invest in. It didn’t take Rory McIlroy long to buy a Ferrari after he quickly made his mark in the paid ranks, while the likes of Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke are already known to have a penchant for fast cars.
Oosthuizen was given an invitation to this week’s event prior to his St Andrews win and quickly agreed to honour the commitment when he could so easily have taken the week off to catch breath as so many major winners have done.
That said, he did indulge in a certain amount of high-flying luxury by arriving in Sweden by private jet.
“I flew in by private jet . . . It’s all starting to sink in,” added Oosthuizen, who still appeared to be a little stunned by his runaway major success.
The Mossel Bay native alluded to an interesting conversation he had with another high-flyer and two-time major champion.
“I got a call from Mr Greg Norman and he said something that I will remember for the rest of my life. He said I am the first person to get him to watch a full round of golf on television. He watched my first shot (on Sunday) to my last and couldn’t leave the couch.”
Oosthuizen will take a lot away from last week’s seven-stroke win which moved him up from 54th to 15th in the world rankings and opens so many doors, though he still intends to compete in Europe.
“Confidence-wise it’s going to help,” he added. “I now tee it up every round knowing I am good enough. When you win one (major) you start looking for your second, then third, you never stop.”
He is joined by Sweden’s 2008 European number one Robert Karlsson, while former Swedish Ryder Cup star Jesper Parnevik is also in the field and playing his first tournament since February.
Five months ago Parnevik (45), feared his career might be over because of a fractured vertebrae in his lower back, which needed emergency fusion surgery.
Americans Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson, South African Rory Sabbatini and Korean star KJ Choi have also moved on to the event from Scotland.
The Irish representation in Stockholm is made up of Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey, Simon Thornton and Gary Murphy.
Scandinavian Masters
Course: Bro Hoff Slott GC (30km north of Stockholm in Sweden).
Length: 7,365 yards.
Par: 72.
Layout: Spectacular Robert Trent Jones Jr design alongside a huge fjord. Potential Ryder Cup course.
Prize money: €2 million, €333,330 to the winner.
Field: 156.
Defending champion: Ricardo Gonzalez.
First played: 1991.
Most wins: 3 – Colin Montgomerie.
On TV: Sky Sports 3, today and tomorrow at 9.30-11.30, 2.30-4.30. Saturday and Sunday 11.30-3.30.
Weather: Cloud and sun over the first two days but wet weather expected for the weekend. Warm temperatures between 23 and 26C.
