The UPS Green Monster is at it again.  Louis Oosthuizen shoots 63 in round two of the HSBC Champions World Golf event in Shenzhen, China yesterday to distance himself from the field with a five-stroke lead over Adam Scott and Ernie Els.  His 16-under total is the best two round scoring in WGC tournament history.

I remind you that this is a guy who won the British Open at the home of golf in 2010 by 7 shots.  He would have won the Masters this year if he had not run into the Bubba Express on Sunday.  Hell, the name on his website is “Louis57Oosthuizen.com” to commemorate a 57 he shot at the Mossel Bay Club in South Africa back in 2002.  Now that is a gaudy lapel pin for your internet site if you ask me.  This is a man with confidence and some swagger.

Over the first two days Louis has owned the five pars on the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills.   He is 11-under on the five-pars with nine birdies and an eagle.  When he starts hitting his irons close to the hole this guy can go low and stay there.

Ernie Els played out of his mind yesterday as well matching Shrek’s 63.  Ernie’s 29 on the front side matches his personal low 9-hole score in a PGA Tour event.

Adam Scott who was tied for the lead after day one, made four birdies on the outward nine to keep pace with the leader.  But to Stevie Williams’s chagrin Adam made 3 bogies on the inward half and had to settle for 68 and a second place tie at 11-under.

Phil might have been the story of the day but on the 18^th hole Phil was, how shall I say it, Phil as he made an awkward double bogey in his own amusing way.  After leaving his approach in the heavy rough in front of the green literally between a rock and a hard place (he had one foot on a rock and the other on the hill) he totally missed the ball on his first attempt.  This is a guy with his name embroidered on the side of his bag whiffing like a hacker in a Barclays commercial.  Phil can be so refreshing some times!

With guys shooting in the mid-60’s no lead is safe.  But Louis has his foot planted to the floor at the moment and is unlikely to let up unless someone Tanya Harding’s his ankle over the next two days.  If you can set your alarm for midnight you will likely see more fireworks over this weekend.

November, 2012