The fact remains: Louis Oosthuizen simply cannot win another major. Just like four weeks ago at the US Open, the 36-year-old South African went into the final round as the leader of the 149th British Open at the Royal St. Georges Golf Club in Sandwich on Sunday, and he also had the field on the first and second and third day. But on the final day, the man with the classic golf swing couldn't find his game at all. His American teammate Collin Morikawa drew level with him on the fourth hole. With three birdies on holes seven, eight and nine, the 24-year-old third in the world ranked ahead of the field. The Californian from Los Angeles confidently drove his second major success home after the PGA Championship 2020.
"This is one of the most beautiful moments of my life," said Morikawa when he was honored as "Champion Golfer of the Year" with the "Claret Jug", the red wine jug in his arms. In the end, Morikawa won with 265 strokes (15 under par / 67 + 64 + 68 + 66) two strokes ahead of his compatriot Jordan Spieth (267 strokes / 65 + 67 + 68 + 66). The 2017 British Open winner lost two early bogeys. The turn with four birdies after an eagle on the 7th hole came too late to put Morikawa into trouble again. After a final round of 66 and a total of 269 strokes, the Spaniard Jon Rahm shared third place with Oosthuizen (71 on the final day and also 269). The Basque, who played by far the best from tee to green, but simply couldn't push a ball into the hole, was comforted:He will take the lead in the world rankings again on Monday.
A Rhinelander's surprise
Even if Marcel Siem fell back on the final day after a round of 71 (1 over par) with a total of 275 strokes (5 under par) from shared ninth to shared 16th place, the 41-year-old Rhinelander is one of the winners of the last major of the Year - a man who nobody had on the bill and who suddenly played in the circle of the greats. The pressure to secure a top ten placement for the first time in one of the four majors in his fifth participation on Sunday was ultimately too great for the professional, who had traveled from tournament to tournament for 14 weeks. “I didn't sleep well,” said the German, who was noticeably tired on Sunday. It was only on the last hole that he managed the only birdie, the crowning glory of a week, which Siem said aptly on Saturday evening: "This is the best golf,I've ever played in such an important tournament. I am proud of myself."
Even before the final round, the German had not only caused a sensation with rounds of 67, 67 and 70 strokes. The 1.89-meter-tall veteran, who ties his long, dark-blonde mane into a knot for golf, delighted the fans not only with good strokes, but also with how openly he showed his joy. Siem was only surprised by his victory on the penultimate Sunday at the Le Vaudreuil Challenge on the Challenge Tour, the second division of the European Tour. His first victory since his triumph at the BMW Masters in Shanghai in November 2014 - incidentally the last victory of a German on the European Tour - brought him up from 488th to 302nd in the world rankings. “I have to be humble. I come out of nowhere, "said Siem,after he had survived the cut in contrast to his compatriots Martin Kaymer and Marcel Schneider.
Bitter times
A terrific achievement for a man who fell out of the top 1000 pecking order a year ago and is currently trying to qualify for the European Tour, a tournament series in which Siem has won four times. In 2014 he moved up to 51st place in the world rankings and tried in vain to get into the top 50, which are eligible for all majors and major tournaments. To achieve this goal, he switched coaches and tried to change his swing: “I wanted to swing a little like Dustin Johnson. That spoiled everything for me, ”said Siem of the unsuccessful attempt to imitate the American world number one. After losing his eligibility to play in 2018, Siem went through bitter times.But with the victory in France, he moved up to third place in the Challenge Tour ranking, so he is well on the way to securing promotion to the European Tour again. In Sandwich, he impressively demonstrated that he should playfully belong to the major tournament series.
Another German shone during the four days on the English south-east coast. Matthias Schmid, the amateur European champion of the years 2019 and 2020, proved with a brilliant performance that he is well prepared for the change to the professional camp this Monday. After rounds of 74, 65, 71 and 72 as well as a total of 282 strokes (2 over par), the 23-year-old Upper Palatinate from Maxhütte took 59th place and was the first German to receive the Silver Medal, which honors the best amateur who survived the cut.