* Flight time is thinking time for Oosthuizen
* Schwartzel kept Masters talk to a minimum
(Adds details, quotes)
By Patrick Johnston
KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Reuters) – After playoff heartbreak
at the U.S. Masters, Louis Oosthuizen spent every minute of his
near 30-hour journey to Malaysia thinking about what more he
could have done at Augusta.
The 2010 British Open champion lost on the second extra hole
to American Bubba Watson at the Masters late on Sunday before
making the lengthy journey across continents to compete in the
European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned Malaysian Open.
With his compatriot, friend and 2011 Masters champion Charl
Schwartzel alongside him, the weary South African said on
Wednesday the long journey had allowed him time to reflect on
his green jacket near miss.
“Every second on the flight I was thinking about what I
would have done different,” the gap-toothed 29-year-old told
reporters while slumped on a sofa at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and
Country Club.
“But I think there probably isn’t much I would have done
different. I felt like I gave it my all, didn’t throw anything
away, played the best I probably could have coming down the
stretch in a major and I was outplayed.
“Being that close to the green jacket is tough to get over
it immediately but I think time will heal it and it just gives
me a bit more confidence when I put it on eventually that I will
be over it.”
Continued…
