Helluva day of golf.

[Stretch]

This weekend was the 100th playing of the South African Open, the second-oldest national championship after "The" Open. It took place during borderline flood conditions across much of the country and the rain came down so hard over the last few days that 1) they had to make up 34 holes today to finish and 2) the fourth green at Durban Country Club was pretty much washed away and the hole deemed unplayable, with all competitors receiving a par on their cards (see 1).

It came down, more or less, to the present vs. the future of SA golf, with Ernie and Retief Goosen slugging it out for first and Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel nipping at their heels. Ernie held on to take it by one shot in the end, shooting 67 and 66 on the day. Goose went 66, 66  (birdieing all three of the final holes to make it a nail-biter) -- Louis 67, 66 -- Charl 69, 67 (with an ace and a 30 on the final nine.) A whole lot of good golf for one Sunday. Oosthuizen, particularly, was just killing the ball all day and was only let down by a cold putter. Seems to finally be over his foot injury and rediscovering the St. Andrews form.

Ernie was pretty chuffed to win the centenary event, you could tell. End of a good year for him, even without a major. Down the other end of the field, Rafael Cabrera-Bello was DQed after losing all his balls ... on the front nine. Don't see that every day either!

[boogielicious]

It looked pretty rough on TV.  Did you go to the event?