South African Louis Oosthuizen coasted to victory in the 2010 Open Championship on the Old Course after a one under par 71 left him at 16 under par overall, seven shots clear of Lee Westwood in second place.
The 27 year-old was never really in trouble throughout the round and an eagle on the ninth settled any remaining nerves. While his playing partner Paul Casey got into trouble with a drive into the bushes on the 12th hole taking a seven, Oosthuizen carded a birdie to move even further ahead. He could afford the luxury of a bogey on the 17th before clinching the Claret Jug and a cheque for £850,000 with an easy par on the 18th for a 272 total. Oosthuizen celebrated with an embrace of his wife Nel-Mare and baby Jana behind the 18th green.
Casey fell back with a 75 for an eight under par total of 280 for the championship. He was overtaken by Westwood who had three birdies on the back nine on his way to a two under par 70 and a four round total of 279. Henrik Stenson shot a 71 to sit on eight under par level with Rory McIlroy, who continued his recovery from his disastrous second round with a 68, and Casey.
Having led since the second round of the championship Oosthuizen was overjoyed with his victory coming as it did on Nelson Mandela's birthday. "To win an Open Championship is special, but to win it at St Andrews is just something you dream about," he said. "You know, I woke up this morning, and I didn't know it was his birthday today, but I saw it this morning on the news, on the internet. It felt a bit special, really, out there."
Oosthuizen pinpointed the four shot swing over Casey on the 12th hole as a turning point in the round. "I felt it was very tight. Three shots was nothing playing the back nine. But the minute Paul hit it in the bush on 12 and making that seven and me making that putt for birdie was a huge thing."
Jin Jeong, the 18 year-old British Amateur Champion, clinched the silver medal as the leading amateur with a four under par total of 284.
To view images from the final round of the Open click here.
For the final leaderboard from the championship click here.