No-name Oosthuizen now a British Open legend | Thebigtip

Oosthuizen wins British Open - by Darren Walton in St Andrews, Scotland from foxsports.com.au

Little-known Louis Oosthuizen has joined some of the legends of golf with a commanding seven shot British Open triumph at St Andrews.

Cool as can be, Oosthuizen carved a final-round one-under-par 71 to finish with a 72-hole total of 16-under 272 - just three shy of Tiger Woods' record score at the home of golf in 2000.

The 27-year-old is only the fourth South African to win the Open, following all-time greats Bobby Locke (149, 1940, 1952 and 1957) and Gary Player (1959, 1968 and 1974) and 2002 champion Ernie Eels, his schoolboy mentor.

Oosthuizen is also the first player to land his maiden Major at the birthplace of golf since US player Tony Lema in 1964 after blowing away all challengers in the gripping 150th anniversary Open.

Known as Shrek in the locker-room, Oosthuizen monstered the famous Old Course with four brilliant rounds of 65-67-69-71.

His first-round seven-under is the lowest opening round ever by an Open winner.

Remarkably, Oosthuizen only went in one bunker all week, on the 14th hole in the final round.

"It's unbelievable,'' Oosthuizen said after wishing former South African president Nelson Mandela a happy 92th birthday in his victory speech.

"It's probably going to hit me tomorrow, what I did, but I felt like I played well the whole week.

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