Reigning Volvo Champions titleholder Louis Oosthuizen admitted a continuing back concern has forced him only to plan a new season schedule up to an including April’s Masters at Augusta.
The South African endured a wretched 2013 when injury forced him out of a number of events including withdrawing after three – rounds of PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Championship and after a first round 75 in the US Open at Merion.
However Oosthuizen’s biggest disappointment came when he was forced out with injury after just six holes on day one of the 2013 British Open, and an event he had won two years earlier .
Oosthuizen was then side-lined for two months before returning to take his place in September’s International Team at the Presidents Cup.
And while the 31-year did not again compete in the States he played all four of the European Tour season-ending events but managing to finish no higher than 15th in the WGC – HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
Now at the start of his 12th full season in the pro ranks Oosthuizen is not prepared to look beyond the Masters where he was runner-up to Bubba Watson in 2012.
“I am defending this week which is great and then playing the three events on the European Tour Desert Swing but taking three weeks off before starting my PGA Tour season in LA,” he said.
“It’s just been so tough and while I had some injections in my lower back last October that seem to have helped, I am not prepared to plan any schedule past the Masters.
“The good thing is I am playing pain-free and I am doing a lot of things to get it better.
“But the pain is definitely still there and it’s not going to go away, and it’s going to take a lot of time.
“It’s meant also I’ve had to cut down my practice on the range and while I’m taking the occasional anti-inflammatory it’s just one of those things I just have to deal with.”
Joining Oosthuizen in this week’s 36-player only $US4m event is fellow South African and Major winner, Charl Schwartzel and also the highest world-ranked player in the field at No. 18.
“I don’t see any extra pressure being the highest-ranked player as it’s not the first time I’ve played in South Africa with that honour,” he said
“I look at everyone this week as being level. Everyone is on a great level playing field. They are all good players and they’ve all won before.
“Whether your No. 1 in the world or number 60, if the 60th ranked guy plays his best he more than likely beats the guy that could be World No. 2.”
Schwartzel, who won the 2012 Volvo Champions at Fancourt, has fond memories of the host Durban Country Club having won the South African Amateur championship and also finishing runner-up in the South African Open.
