Oosthuizen: It’s never nice to lose

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Louis Oosthuizen insists he is staying positive despite another disappointing play-off defeat at a major championship.

A winner by eight shots at the Old Course in 2010, South African Oosthuizen birdied the eighteenth in the final round at St Andrews to enter a play-off with Australian Marc Leishman and eventual winner Zach Johnson after the trio all finished the tournament on 15 under.

But after another birdie on the first play-off hole, the 32-year-old three-putted the second to give Johnson the initiative, rekindling feelings of his previous major heartbreak where he lost a play-off to Bubba Watson at the Masters in 2012.

“I think I did really well getting in the play-off. I had four three-putts today,” the 32-year-old told the Irish Examiner.

“It’s never nice to lose a play-off. I’ve had the experience in 2012 at Augusta.

“You feel like you’ve got a really good chance of winning rather doing it during the tournament or in the fourth round.

“But I’ll take a lot out of this week. I was really motivated to win this championship this week. I love this place. I’ve said it a thousand times. I can’t wait for it to come back here again.

The South African had a chance to send the play-off into extra holes, smashing a massive drive down the middle on the 18th, but rolled his 12 foot putt just past the hole after a nervy pitch from the Valley of Sin, handing the Claret Jug to Johnson.

“I’ll take a lot out of the putts I made to be able to get in the play-off, the shots I pulled off, and the little second on 18 (in regulation play),” he added.

“I left myself a little bit too much to do probably on that pitch in the play-off.

“I didn’t think I was going to get the driver that far up there and it was an awkward little spot but I did well, (but) misread the putt.”

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