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Oosthuizen is determined to win Race to Dubai

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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 07: Louis Oosthuizen during day 3 of the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City on December 07, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. EDITOR'S NOTE: For free editorial use. Not available for sale. No commercial usage. (Photo by Petri Oeschger/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images)

Louis Oosthuizen expressed his intent to win the season-long Race to Dubai ahead of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, where he needs ‘a very big week.’

The 2010 Open Champion is seventh in the European Tour ranking with the two biggest events of the season remaining. This week at Gary Player Country Club there is $7-million on offer and the winner will take home enough to rocket up the Race to Dubai standings.

‘Winning a Nedbank (Golf Challenge) will be great on any South African CV and the European Tour Race to Dubai title will also be huge. Those are the two big things for the next couple of weeks,’ he said.

Oosthuizen has played all formats of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, but admitted that it’s a serious atmosphere this time around. He’s chasing Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson and defending champ Danny Willett, both of whom are in the field.

‘I feel that I can play well around this golf course, so I just need to get out there and do it,’ said Oosthuizen. ‘When we played the 12-man and 30-man field it was a lot more relaxed. This week feels like it’s down to proper business for the tournament, because the Finals Series ends next week.’

There are nine South Africans competing this week, all of them bidding to win ‘Africa’s Major’. Watch out for world number 15 Branden Grace, who broke onto the PGA Tour with a victory at the RBC Heritage earlier this year.

Leading the SA favourites is Charl Schwartzel, who has four top-10s from his last five starts at Gary Player Country Club. The 2011 Masters winner is incredibly with long irons, which suits the layout at Sun City.

‘Branden is right behind me and Charl has done quite well here before,’ Oosthuizen said of his countrymen. ‘It’s been a while since a South African won here, I think the last was Trevor Immelman. We need to get his tournament back for our country again.’

Oosthuizen is playing for more than country and pride, he wants to win the Race to Dubai. Watch out for King Louis at Sun City this week.