2002 IRISH AMATEUR CHAMPION WINS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

27 year old Louis Oosthuizen achieved his first Major win in Ireland as an amateur.The then 19 year old won the Irish Amateur Open stroke play tournament at Royal Dublin,in 2002.

He won his first European tournament earlier this year at the Andalucia Open but other than that he didn't show any real signs that he was ready to win a major.In fact,in his previous 8 majors he only made one cut and in that one,at the USPGA Championship in 2008,he finished last of the qualifiers.

Louis played exceptional golf all week.He got the wrong side of the draw in the first round but still knocked it home in 65 blows and only 2 behind Rory McIlroy who shot a record 63 in calm conditions.McIlroy was still in bed when Oosthuizen caught up with his score of -9,after playing 5 holes of the second round in calm conditions.He went on to score a 67 for a clubhouse total of 132,-12.

As the afternoon starters were getting their rounds underway,the gusting winds got up to as high as 40 MPH speeds.Play was stopped for one hour but the players weren't happy as,when play resumed,the wind was as bad as it was,before play was suspended.

The overnight leader McIlroy had a disaster.Including a four putt double bogey he had 6 other bogies for a round of 80 to slip well down the field on -1.Rory showed his enormous potential when he closed with rounds of 69 and 68 to grab a share of 3rd place on -8 alongside paul Casey and Henrik Stenson.

World No3 Lee Westwood claimed 2nd place with steady rounds of 67,71,71,70 -9.Lee was also second to Stewart Cink in last year's, Open and runner-up to Phil Mickleson in the Masters this year.

Oosthuizen led for the last 48 holes as he played perfect golf over the weekend.He hit a 69 in the 3rd round and during the final round,the closest anyone got to him was when he dropped a shot at the 8th and Paul Casey closed the gap to two shots.It was short lived as Louis drove the par 4,9th and holed a 30 foot putt for an eagle.

It was all over at the 12th when Casey drove into gorse and took a triple bogey 7,while Oosthuizen made a birdie to open up a 9 shot lead.He went on to win by 7 shots ahead of Westwood who was on -9 .It was the biggest winning margin since Tiger Woods won by 8 shots when he lifted the trophy in 2000 on the same course.

It will be a whole new world for Oosthuizen as he has now jumped from 54th to 15th in the World Rankings.He can play in the Open until he is 60!He has a 5 year exemption for the Masters,US Open and USPGA and no doubt more sponsors and invites will come forward.

British Amateur Champion,20 year old Jin Jeong from Korea,lifted the silver medal as leading amateur.He finished joint 14th after a closing 72 left him on -4.Jeong will turn Professional after the Masters tournament next April.

US Open Champion,Graeme Mc Dowell had a good tournament.He closed with a 2 under par 70 for a share of 23rd place alongside World No1 Tiger Woods.

Colm Moriarty,a regular on the Challenge Tour,took a step up in class and didn't disappoint.He shared 37th place alongside Shane Lowry on -1 to win €26,188.Darren Clarke had a poor 3rd round but recovered with a closing 71 to share 44th place on level par,288.

Padraig Harrington and Gareth Maybin were blown away in the winds of the second round and they missed the +2 cut mark.(Maybin +4 and Harrington +6.)