Golf:Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen had his wishes come true in Durban today - not just a 64 to lead the Volvo Champions event, but the bonus of an excavator for his farm. A 30-foot birdie putt on the final green took the 30-year-old South African into a one-stroke halfway lead over Scotland's Scott Jamieson — also round in 64 - and Thai golfer Thongchai Jaidee.
The digger was then presented to Oosthuizen because he had been promised it rather than a car if he was part of the winning team on the day with Jaidee and amateur Colin Ledwith, a two-handicap member at Canons Brook in England. They were level with Darren Clarke, Thorbjorn Olesen and their partner with one to play and once on the putting surface Oosthuizen said: “I walked around to the guys and said ‘Listen, we need one of these to go in’.
“I was fortunate enough to make the long one — and then Colin made one as well.”
On five under, the next best players are Ireland’s Shane Lowry, Scot Paul Lawrie, Dane Thomas Bjorn, France’s Julien Quesne and England’s Danny Willett.
The field, which includes Padraig Harrington (three under), Darren Clarke (one under) and Michael Hoey (two over), is only 33-strong and limited to last year’s winners, previous holders of the title and those with 10 or more career titles.
