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Louis Oosthuizen set for US Masters debut

Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Vicky Woollaston
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Louis Oosthuizen will make his US Masters debut next week as the first former member of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation to qualify for the event in Augusta

Louis Oosthuizen is set to make his US Masters debut next week after he climbed into the top-50 of the Official World Golf Ranking following last weekend's golf events.

Oosthuizen finished in a tie for 64th at Arnold Palmer Invitational to collect just enough points for 50th place in the world rankings to book his place at the season's opening major.

The South African will be the first former member of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation to play in the US Masters, which gives kids from under-privileged backgrounds who show potential in the game of golf a chance to develop in the sport.

"Well done to Louis," commented Ernie Els. "He’s got a great talent. Just imagine what an inspiration this news will be for the 21 current members of the Foundation. It goes to show that anything is possible when you give good kids some opportunities and a decent start in life. It really is great news all round."

26-year-old Oosthuizen has progressively improved his Order of Merit position every year since 2005 and is currenlty sixth on the European Tour Race to Dubai Rankings - thanks to a strong run of play which saw him register five consecutive top-10 finishes between the Joburg Open and the Malaysian Open, including two runner-up spots in the Desert Swing.

Oosthuizen overtook Davis Love III after Love III's poor display at Bay Hill, which also allowed Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, Open de Andalucia winner Soren Kjeldsen and Australia's Matthew Goggin to make the cut for the US Masters.