With an 11-under par total of 129 strokes through two rounds at the 2021 British Open, Louis Oosthuizen has broken the 36-hole scoring record at golf’s oldest championship.
Oosthuizen made his first and only bogey in that stretch on the par-3 16th hole on Friday, but made a gutsy par save on the next hole en route to a 5-under round of 65 to back up his opening 64.
RECORD BREAKER! @Louis57TM cards the lowest 36-hole score ever at #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/9u9dxL86yw
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2021
Scoring conditions were ideal at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, Kent, England. Despite the fairways lending to unpredictable bounces and the rough posing a serious challenge, Oosthuizen put on an absolute clinic off the tee to build a two-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa.
When there isn’t wind howling at this venue, it lends itself to pretty low scores. Oosthuizen got particularly hot on the back nine in Round 2, birdieing Nos. 12 and 13 before an eagle at the par-5 14th.
If he keeps up his elite form from tee to green and holes some timely putts, Oosthuizen will be lifting the Claret Jug on Sunday for the second time. We’ve seen dominant form from Oosthuizen at The Open before, as he won in 2010 at St. Andrews by seven strokes.
Will Louis Oosthuizen finally rise up on Sunday? #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/wPI9O7GFXh
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 16, 2021
Louis Oosthuizen leads @TheOpen after 18 holes.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 16, 2021
It's the 8th straight major round that he's finished inside the top 3, the 3rd-longest streak since all 4 majors became stroke play events.
Only Tiger Woods (12 straight in 2000) and Jack Nicklaus (10 in 1972) have longer streaks. pic.twitter.com/i5bnW3Zdtr
How long ago was Louis Oosthuizen's win at St. Andrews?
— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) July 16, 2021
A week later, Collin Morikawa shot 73-76 to finish T2 in the 12-13 age division of the Yorba Linda Junior Invitational.
.@BKoepka every time @PaulAzinger calls Louis Oosthuizen "the best major player in the world right now": pic.twitter.com/dk0xUl5m5h
— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) July 16, 2021
Louis Oosthuizen is out here playing Royal St. George's like it's the Barbasol #TheOpen
— Amanda Rose (@amandagolf59) July 16, 2021
King Louis might not have won any of these, but he didn’t balloon to a high score either. https://t.co/CvwWhxBrtV
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) July 16, 2021
MAIL SPORT: King Louis! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/sIXfeJjq8j
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 16, 2021
In the last 48 years, only two players have won #TheOpen wire-to-wire.
— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) July 16, 2021
Louis will try and join Rory and Tiger. pic.twitter.com/WeYB4L2sEq
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