Louis Oosthuizen
A South African golfer with one of the sweetest swings in the game, known for a major championship masterpiece and agonizingly consistent near-misses.
Born 1982 (age 44)·South African professional golfer·Birthday: October 19·Millennials
Biography
Louis Oosthuizen's career is a tale of one towering peak surrounded by a plateau of heartbreak. Hailing from Mossel Bay, South Africa, he turned professional young and struggled for years on the European Tour before everything clicked in spectacular fashion at the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews. He didn't just win; he authored a masterpiece, lapping the field with a seven-stroke victory that showcased a swing so smooth and effortless it became the envy of the golf world. That win promised a cascade of majors, but a different pattern emerged: the agonizing runner-up finish. Oosthuizen has placed second in all four major championships, sometimes in playoff defeats, accumulating a reputation as perhaps the best player without a second major. Despite this, his calm demeanor, impeccable rhythm, and global success, including a win at The Players Championship, cement his status as a modern great.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Louis was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Louis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Louis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won The Open Championship in 2010 at St. Andrews, winning by seven strokes.
- Has finished runner-up in all four major championships: the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, and PGA Championship.
- Won the prestigious Players Championship in 2021, considered golf's 'fifth major.'
- Reached a career-high world ranking of No. 4 in January 2013.
- Has over ten international victories on tours including the European Tour and Sunshine Tour.
Did You Know?
His 2010 Open Championship victory came on his birthday, July 18.
He owns and operates a successful cattle and game farm in South Africa.
He made a double eagle (albatross) on the par-5 second hole during the final round of the 2012 Masters Tournament.
His nickname is 'Shrek,' a moniker given to him by fellow golfer Charl Schwartzel.
“St. Andrews is where it all started for me. It's just a special place.”
