Louis Oosthuizen got back into action on the PGA Tour on Thursday, and it was as if he’d never been away as he got the new season going with a bogey-free six-under-par 66 in the first round of the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
There were three birdies on each of his nines as he took up a share of 10th with former South African Rory Sabbatini, the Olympic silver medallist. They, together with five other players, were four shots off the lead held by Sung Kang of South Korea. Kang led by one from countryman Sungjae Im and American’s Charley Hoffman and Chad Ramey.
It was a precision display by Oosthuizen, who drove the ball long – he averaged 312 yards off the tee – and straight as he hit 12 of 14 fairways, and 17 of 18 greens in regulation. He had 30 putts, and he missed out on birdies on two of the four par-fives.
Garrick Higgo also opened his campaign for the new PGA Tour season with six birdies, but he also had two bogeys on his way toa four-under 68 and a share of 31st. Charl Schwartzel had a solid three-under to be in 60th, while Erik van Rooyen was on level-par in 111th. Dylan Frittelli had a poor start with his one-over leaving him down in 126th.
