US Open runner-up Louis Oosthuizen keen to forget ‘completely different’ Chambers Bay course

Louis Oosthuizen finished second at the US Open despite looking destined to miss the halfway cut. David Cannon / Getty

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen wants to forget about last week’s US Open as soon as possible, despite finishing second thanks to a remarkable performance.

Oosthuizen looked certain to miss the halfway cut when he followed an opening 77 with two bogeys at the start of his second round to slump to nine-over par at Chambers Bay.

The former Open champion then played the remaining 16 holes in six-under par to score a superb 66, which he matched in the third round. After four holes of the final round he was three-over par but had six birdies in the last seven holes.

“While I’m taking a lot of positives out of the week and finished in second, I want to forget about that golf course for now and focus on this week,” Oosthuizen said before the next stop on the US PGA Tour, the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

“It was definitely different, completely different to what we play every week. I like links golf, but that was something different than links golf.

“It wasn’t the way links golf should be played. It was just a tough week.

“I think the mental game was the biggest issue there that week, that the golf course could really get you down in the dumps and make you want to go home early.

“The whole idea for the week, or my thought of the week, was someone’s got to win it, so you might as well just give it your best and see what happens.”

Oosthuizen is one of seven players who finished inside the top 15 last week who are competing in Connecticut, with compatriot Branden Grace joined by Cameron Smith, Brandt Snedeker, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed and Andres Romero.

FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel is also contesting an event won last year by Kevin Streelman, who birdied his last seven holes to win by a single shot from Sergio Garcia and KJ Choi.

Horschel was among the fiercest critics of Chambers Bay and took an angry swipe at the sixth green with his putter after missing a short putt during a closing round of 67.

“There are a couple of regrets I had,” Horschel said. “The actions I showed on green six weren’t acceptable.

“When I walked off the golf course I had a sickening feeling for what I showed on the sixth green.

“I will make myself clear again. I did not hit that green. I know better than that. I swear on my life. My caddie was there, he will swear on his life I did not hit that green.

“But at the same time it wasn’t acceptable. It’s not the role model I want to be to millions of young golfers.

“I don’t take back my comments that I said on Sunday, not one comment at all, but I do wish I would have done it in a private setting ... To air some stuff out in public was not acceptable.”

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