Farmer Louis Oosthuizen Buys Deere Tractor with Open Bounty
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 22, 2010 10:08 AM EDT
in Golfiness
Email
PrintThis year, the R&A increased the payout of the Open Championship because of the British pound's standing against other global currencies - particularly the US dollar. (I'm surprised, too.) In the end, Louis Oosthuizen took home some 850,000 GBP ($1.3 million) for the win.
It's only been a few days, so Louis has had little time to really enjoy the cash. But, he did make one big purchase: a John Deere tractor.
"Being a farm boy, it was one of my big dreams and I got a nice John Deere tractor," said Oosthuizen before the Scandinavian Masters this week . "I made sure that there is space for my little daughter in her car seat next to me, so, yeah, we are going to have a lot of fun in it."
Commissioner Finchem's ears have to be perking up at that kind of product placement from the Open champion.
As for Oosthuizen's first round since the big win, he is currently tied for fifth in Stockholm.
25 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It would be better “product placement” if Oosthuizen had decided to play on the PGA Tour next year (he hasn’t accepted his card as of yet) and then played in the John Deere Classic…which he wouldn’t because it is the week before he defends his British Open title. Hmmm. Now there’s a Catch 22 for you.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I like where you’re going with that. But there’s no way in hell he plays that, right?
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 22, 2010 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Not a chance – but you can bet he’ll get an invitation if he doesn’t accept the PGA Tour card – not that he would accept in hopes of winning another tractor…but maybe one of those cool tee markers and a ride over to the UK on the charter ! :-)
Second bummer of the year – another European Tour player wins a major – which makes him eligible for an immediate PGA Tour card – which Graeme McDowell has accepted for next year – BUT – even if they both accepted the cards right after their wins, the 600 Fed Ex points for the wins wouldn’t count towards their total this year, so they would be starting from scratch just to get into the playoffs.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Yeah, it’s kinda similar to the winnings from the USWO in ’08 not helping Stacy Lewis.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 22, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey RB, Court...aren't you making
assumptions here ? Why wouldn’t he play the week before ? Because you say so ? Hardly, some guys set their schedules one way, and some the other….He might just decide it’s in his best interest….I’d want to wait and see what he does….Right now, it seems he’s not that interested in the Tour card….and why should he be….He’s an INTERNATIONAL player right now…..STUB
That's what we said...
He wouldn’t play in the US if he’s not a PGA Tour player. He’s not going to fly here for a tournament the week before The British Open he’s defending at. The US doesn’t have appearance fees that might sway him – but The British is still going to win out since it’s a major.
He hasn’t accepted the PGA Tour card to this point. We’re talking about things as they are.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
No your not...your assuming
he won’t play in the US the week before the Open….Bet he would get a sponsors invite if he wanted to….Tour card or no…Never mind appearance fees….we are talking where and when he will play…I still say why not ? He’s and INTERNATIONAL player….never know where he will be living either…..That’s true Easy….but if he’s grounded enough to purchase a Deer tractor, you think the Deer people wouldn’t want to publicize that ?…STUB
I'm sure they would, mate
But preparing to defend his Open would be a lot more important…if the Deer was another time, he would probably go.
No – he’s a European Tour Player. That’s the card he holds. There is no such thing as an International Player unless he/she holds multiple tour cards. Right now, Oosthuizen has one card – for the European Tour.
Beats me what the Deere people would want to do. Their tournament is a year away. And since they can’t offer him any sort of under the table payment, or over the table farm equipment, I really doubt he’s going to travel halfway around the world the week before The British Open to play a small(ish) tournament in the States, then fly back to defend a MAJOR the next week.
And thanks Eas – add another name to the list.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Austin Powers was an International "Playa"
He went everywhere and didn’t need a card to get in.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Once again, court, you a wrong.
The term “International player” is someone who plays against the US in the Presidents cup. The fact that many inside the US ( including you) think that golf revolves around the USA, anyone not an American is classed as such. Silly technicalities like " He is a European player" mean nothing, except you want things to stay as they are. It’s good to see Johnson and Fowler playing in Europe this week. Kim might have done if he was fit. The old gaurd wouldn’t…they’d miss their dinner at home too much. Could you imagine 25 years ago if that had happened ? Beamon would have come down hard. Fincham can’t, because he knows it’s enevitable.
ah – very true – so you’re saying the Oosthuizen will only be playing once every two years after the season is over ? How is he going to gather points to be on that International President’s Cup team ?
You need to pull up the player roster for the PGA Tour – you’ll see a lot more than just American flags.
Don’t forget, too, that transportation wasn’t as convenient or as fast during the Beamon days as it is now.
I still challenge you to find a European Tour player who wouldn’t prefer to have the entire season played close to home so he could get home to his family more often.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Thats called an ideal world
And you and I both know that’s not the real world. European tour players know this too…and they are used to the traveling. Americans are not. Funny enough,in Jacks day, he Arnold and Gary went all over the world promoting the game. He and Gary won 6 Australian Opens each, in the ’60’s and ’70’s..Beamons time, as you put it. Funny…I flew from LA to London in ‘74 in 10 hours on a 747…was it so hard then ? Now, of course, they have private jets. You put up reasons as to why a world tour wouldn’t work, ie points, family and all that rubbish…yet the rest of the world has to play in your country. It’s a double standard you always seem to overlook.
Did I say the rest of the world HAD to play in this country ? These guys are here by choice because the money is the best and, yes, as you say, the travel is MUCH easier. What I still don’t understand is why you still think that these guys are playing for anyone but themselves. Sure, they all have charities and foundations – but ultimately, they are playing golf for a living.
You mention Palmer and Player – remember that the money they were playing for wasn’t what it is today. They traveled more because they had to.
Eventually, I think you’re going to be right on this – but not for all the reasons you think. They players still won’t be playing around the world just becuase they’re swell people and think they have some duty to perform all over the place – they will do it because the purses are better somewhere else.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Ah sir....pehaps you are not
familiar with the PURSES that men in Europe carry ? jist saying mind ya…..STUB
.Swell guys ?
No, I just think the best competition won’t be on any one tour. And it’ll be a structured world tour, WGC events, played more around the world for a start, then evolving from there. And the points and the purses will ensure the players will be there. Because the points on the home tours won’t add up as much..Top 50 is everything nowadays. It gets you in the big ones.
You keep thinking that. What you’ll end up with is the top players showing up for majors and whatever the WGC turns out to be and a few other big dollar events – just like tennis. Other than that, you won’t see the top players going head to head – just like tennis.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Let me see..
4 majors, 3 WGC events a few big dollar events..just what happens now isn’t it ? I can’t think of 10 times they all meet all season. The Fed Ex has sort of forced it at the end of the season and the Race to Dubai has tried to copy that. The 2 main tours trying to outdo eachother splits the top players up a bit. If they merged into a global tour, that wouldn’t happen. I think it’s an exciting prospect.
don’t forget the new WGC in China. :-)
Yep – the top guys get the main 7 plus the Players – most play Bay Hill and Memorial and 3 of the four playoffs – but they get in an average of 18 or 19 a year. The off season is when they travel to Asia and Australia and some to northern Africa
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Have a golf story tip? Contact editor Charles Boyer and he will follow the story! Thanks!
Related FanPosts on Waggle Room
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
