"Champagne" Louie

[Mike Cirba]

Possibly not since Tony Lema in the early 60s has there been a unusually lovable character hoisting the Claret Jug as the Open Champion.

He's some weird combination of a young Gary Player, but instead of Player's often dour determination, he has an impish, playful, self-deprecating demeanor, mixed with a repeating swing that brings to mind Tony Jacklin in his prime.

This evening, he bought Champagne for the entire press crew.

I'm not sure he ever heard the Tony Lema story, which may have inspired his hosting the bubbly benefit, or if it was coincidence, but either way, the guy is a breath of fresh air, and in the year that will likely sadly go down as the start of Tiger's tragic fall from glory, this couldn't have happened at a better time for the game of golf.

Long live King Louie!

[Tim_Cronin]

I knew I liked him for a reason! Cheers, Louie!

[Bill_McBride]

Louie Louie!

[Carl Johnson]

Louie Louie!

Louie, Lou-eye.

[Bill_McBride]

Louie Louie!

Louie, Lou-eye.

We gotta go!

[Paul Stephenson]

Louie Louie!

Louie, Lou-eye.

Oostheizen... Hes got the jug...ya ya ya ya ya ya.

[TEPaul]

Paul Stephenson:

Most can't pronounce his last name and you can't even spell it correctly.

That guy has a whole lot of unique and unusal crowd appeal to him and he sure did put on a clinic this week on how to play links and tournament golf. And, I'll say it again; I'm old and I've seen a lot of golf and golfers in my time but Louis just may have the most efficient golf swing I've ever seen!

When I read some posts and comments on here that imply there must be something wrong somehow with TOC because an unknown like Louis Oosthuizen won THE Open like he did it really makes me laugh.

It seems some use every excuse they can think of to criticize something about a golf course rather than just realizing with Oosthuizen this week they just saw one of the best 72 hole performances golf has seen. Who cares who did it? Who cares if one of the stars didn't do it? This week heretofore relatively unknown Louis Oosthuizen did it in spades!

[Jay Flemma]

Don't forget that Payne Stewart did the same thing as well after the '99 U.S. Open.

[Tony_Chapman]

I think he is a wonderfu champion, for sure. What a great story, Mike, thanks for sharing. Still my favorite words of the year:

"With a score of Two-hundred and seventy-two, winner of the Gold Medal and the Champion Golfer for the Year, Louis Oosthuizen."

[Charlie Goerges]

Sheesh, if he wanted to buy Champagne for a bunch of no-talent hacks, there are about 1493 guys on this site who would have been quite appreciative.

[Chuck Brown]

Don't forget that Payne Stewart did the same thing as well after the '99 U.S. Open.

Jay, please, please reassure me that there are other major winners, not just Payne Stewart and Tony Lema, who bought champagne for the press.  Because that particular association is too unnerving to think about.

[Tim Gavrich]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but I am struck by the generally casual way Oosthuizen seemed to talk and walk and play all week.  Whenever he was interviewed after his round, it was occasionally difficult to know quite what he was saying because he seemed to be mumbling or drawling a bit at times.  As a result he seemed very relaxed and carefree (if not endowed with Ciceroic powers of oratory).  I'm sure he was nervous on the inside, but he sure gave off a very low-stress vibe to me.  I wish I could see (if not be) so casual and cool in, around, and after competition.  I hope this isn't a one-off bit of success; the more big names, the better for professional golf.

[PCCraig]

A nice gesture by the Champion and something that I'm sure everyone on press row will remember for some time when interviewing him. Should be done everytime someone wins a major, but obviously it doesn't.

[Rick Shefchik]

Except that most of the reporters are on deadline, and those who take their jobs seriously would pass on the bubbly. Hate to be a killjoy, but I've been there, and the old days of boozing and writing are (mostly) gone.

[PCCraig]

Except that most of the reporters are on deadline, and those who take their jobs seriously would pass on the bubbly. Hate to be a killjoy, but I've been there, and the old days of boozing and writing are (mostly) gone.

A glass of champagne is considered "boozing" now?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am sure it was appreciated by the working press LOL. I understand the deadlines but those stories should have been almost finsihed by the time he walked up 18.

[Mark Pearce]

Except that most of the reporters are on deadline, and those who take their jobs seriously would pass on the bubbly. Hate to be a killjoy, but I've been there, and the old days of boozing and writing are (mostly) gone.

A glass of champagne is considered "boozing" now?

Quite.  It would frankly be pompous beyond belief for a journalist to refuse a glass of champagne, bought by the Open Champion to celebrate his win on the basis that it would, somehow, impair his ability to get his copy in on time in decent order.

[PCCraig]

I am sure it was appreciated by the working press LOL. I understand the deadlines but those stories should have been almost finsihed by the time he walked up 18.

I think most probably started their final stories when he drained his putt on 9!

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mike,
Agreed, but not with the idea that this will be the "...year that will likely sadly go down as the start of Tiger's tragic fall from glory,..."

[Rick Shefchik]

Except that most of the reporters are on deadline, and those who take their jobs seriously would pass on the bubbly. Hate to be a killjoy, but I've been there, and the old days of boozing and writing are (mostly) gone.

A glass of champagne is considered "boozing" now?

Quite.  It would frankly be pompous beyond belief for a journalist to refuse a glass of champagne, bought by the Open Champion to celebrate his win on the basis that it would, somehow, impair his ability to get his copy in on time in decent order.

Pompous beyond belief? Since when did acting like a professional become pompous? Yeah, a sip or two of champagne isn't going to affect anybody's copy, but I'd still guess most of the pros put off celebrating with Oosty until after they filed.

[Mark Pearce]

Though that's not what you said, Rick, is it.  You hated to be a killjoy (did you, really?) and stated that most would "pass on the bubbly".  Sounds like you were saying they would have refused it.  Which I don't believe for a minute.

[Terry Lavin]

Here's hoping that he's not the next Todd Hamilton.  Seems like a great player and a terrific guy.

[Rick Shefchik]

Though that's not what you said, Rick, is it.  You hated to be a killjoy (did you, really?) and stated that most would "pass on the bubbly".  Sounds like you were saying they would have refused it.  Which I don't believe for a minute.

Mark, I really don't know what the context is. I've been in a press tent on Sunday after a major championship when there was no champagne offered. I know my editor would have taken a dim view of my having a celebratory sip while writing on deadline. The rival reporters I knew would have felt under similar constraints, I believe. Maybe it's different in Europe.

[Mike Demetriou]

the question is, what kind of Champagne?

honestly, I'm with Pat - this is hardly boozing. I know that many are puckered up these days about the notion of drinking while working, and I certainly don't advocate a return to the MadMen era, but honestly, a glass of champagne as a thoughtful gesture to probably the largest engines in the machine of publicity that these golfers enjoy - definitely not contemptible.

Who is Todd Hamilton?

[Jud_T]

Although the jury is surely out, this was quite a bit different than some of the one-hit wonder major winners we've had the past few years.  Sure he got a break on the weather on Friday, but Louie seems to have the goods.  For a guy who's 5'9" he effortlessly pounded drives 330 on a string on virtually every hole.  If he continues to do that and maintain the laid-back attitude, we may be witnessing the emergence of a frequent major contender.  I love the red dot on the glove concept as well!

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