Louis Oosthuizen saw his title bid falter on the weekend but will be soothed by a cheque worth R2 781 536 for his efforts at Augusta National this week.

What they earned at The Masters

Oosthuizen drifted from the main contenders for a Green Jacket after a Saturday 71 and finished in share of 12th despite breaking his sequence of 71, 71, 71 with a final round 69 for a total of -6, nine behind eventual winner and  leader by three heading into the final round, Patrick Reed.

King Louis’ pay cheque was earned on the back of a solid back nine recovery after his double at the 11th.

Oosthuizen, who turned one under after two front nine birdies, quickly tumbled down the leaderboard after a six at the start of Amen Corner. Showing every ounce of his class, the 2012 playoff loser responded in fine style to birdie both of the remaining holes in golf’s most famous stretch.

For just the second time this week, the Mossel Bay local birdied the 15th and then got his share of the Sunday roars with a two at the short 16th hole as he moved up the leaderboard into a far higher pay grade.

A solid save on the 72nd hole ensured a finish just outside the top 10 where he’d been for the majority of the week but a good result as he continues his search for a second Major and a long overdue win on US soil.

Branden Grace was South Africa’s only other player to make the weekend and after three rounds in the 70s (73, 73, 74), he turned on the style to move up 16 places on Sunday.

Grace’s 67, which included four birdies in a row from the 13th and a closing birdie to erase his bogey on the 17th, helped him join Webb Simpson as the biggest mover on the final day and also secured R1 129 165 as he finished in the group sharing 24th place.

Oosthuizen did however not only out-earn his friend and countryman but also widen his rankings gap as he moved to 28 (up three) and five ahead of Grace.

Dylan Frittelli missed the cut but remained in 50th place while Charl Schwartzel, who dramatically collapsed to miss the weekend on Friday, dropped to 61st place in the world.

Photo:  David Cannon/Getty Images