PERTH. – Louis Oosthuizen overcame a nervous start to eke out a one-stroke victory at the Perth International yesterday, the South African golfer securing his eighth European Tour title on his first ever visit to Australia. The 2010 British Open winner went into the final round of the tri-sanctioned event with a three-stroke lead but quickly saw his advantage reduced to one after a bogey on the second hole.

Local favourite Jason Scrivener tied the 33-year-old South African for the lead briefly but Oosthuizen regained his sole possession of top spot after consecutive birdies on the seventh and eighth.

Oosthuizen’s final round one-under-par 71 for a four-day total of 16-under 272 was eventually enough to keep him ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy, while Scrivener finished a stroke further adrift in third.

The world number 21 admitted he was nervous after his false start but regained control to end a two-year title drought at the A$1,75 million ($1,25 million) event, which is also sanctioned by the Asian and Australian tours.

“I missed the second and third greens and was a sort of little rattled after that,” Oosthuizen told reporters after his win. “But I settled in nicely and got back to hitting greens and giving myself opportunities.

“Then I had a good stretch from holes seven through to 12, although I did leave myself with a vicious first putt on the last (from 50 feet) but luckily I had three so could afford the bogey.”

Levy’s birdie on the 18th meant Oosthuizen had a two-shot advantage heading into the final hole and his bogey was still good enough to see him home.

“The greens firmed out a little today so you needed to look at your speeds carefully and the lines changed quite a bit,” said Oosthuizen, adding that he stayed up late to watch the Stormers defeat Bulls in their opening Super Rugby fixture but fell asleep when they were winning with five minutes to go.

“So it was slightly different but still good.”

Levy fired the equal-lowest round of the day, a six-under 66, to fall just short of forcing a playoff with 15-under. Scrivener holed a 60-foot putt at the last to finish outright third at 14 under.

Another Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, who only made the weekend cut by one stroke, finished tied for fourth place with American Peter Uihlein at 13 under after closing rounds of 65 and 66.

A third Frenchman Romain Wattel finished with a par 72 for 12 under and outright sixth. – Reuters

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