Louis Oosthuizen made it third lucky and also bounced back from last week’s Masters defeat in capturing the rain affected Maybank Malaysian Open title.,

Oosthuizen had been runner in the Shell Houston Open and then went to Augusta to lose a play-off in the Masters.

Louis Oosthuizen wins 2012 Maybank Malaysian Open. (Photo - Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)

However the very affable South African made up for his back-to-back bridesmaid roles in posting a final round 68 and finish three clear of Scotland’s in-form Stephen Gallacher who secured his best result this year with a last day 70 for a 14-under par tally.

The result while delighting Oosthuizen and good friend Charl Schwartzel, who finished sixth, will also please ISM manager, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler who had been by Oosthizen’s side last Sunday at Augusta and hoping to be among the first to greet the new Masters winning hero.

It was the 29-year old Oosthuizen’s second Race to Dubai success this year after capuring the Africa Open earlier this season.

Both Oosthuizen and Schwartzel had travelled straight from the Masters and across 12 time zones to tee up in steamy Kuala Lumpur.

Weather delays on Friday and Saturday had meant the 2010 Open Champion had to play 26 holes on the final day.

Oosthuizen evenutally carded a closing 68 for a 17 under par total, with all four of his rounds sub-70.

One clear of Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher overnight, Oosthuizen ground down his nearest challenger, who remained in contention right until the closing stretch but struggled to make birdies in a closing bogey-free round of 70.

Oosthuizen began the day by playing the last eight holes of his third round in level par, and was briefly caught when Gallacher birdied the 15th and 16th.

However the 37 year old Scot bogeyed the 17th, however, allowing Oosthuizen to preserve his one shot lead going into the final round.

Oosthuizen turned in a two under par 34, and Gallacher stayed in touch with birdies at the fifth and tenth – both par fives – but crucially Oosthuizen was able to raise his game on the back nine and sink a ten foot birdie putt at the 13th before pitching to two feet at the last and holing the birdie putt.

It was Oosthuizen’s fifth European Tour title and should lift him to around a career high of 10th in the World Rankings.

Oosthuizen had led going into the final round of the also weather affected Shell Houston Open before being overhauled by American Hunter Mahan, and then last week the South African became just the fourth player in Masters history to record an albatross.

Unfortuntely it was a stroke of magic on Watson’s behalf at the second extra play-off hole that denied Schwartzel having the chance of fitting Oosthuizen with the famed green jacket.

“I thought I was going to be a lot more tired,” said Oosthuizen.

“I played well. I had a good week last week and im looking forward to the US Open.”

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello continued his good form with a closing 71 for a 12 under total to share third with England’s Danny Willett and American David Lipsky, with Oosthuizen’s friend and compatriot sixth on 11 under.

World Number Seven Martin Kaymer and defending champion Matteo Manassero also recorded top-ten finishes after rounds of 71 and 69 respectively.

* Thanks to European Tour.