I bumped into Charl Schwartzel, the number 27 player in the world, at his home course at Blair Atholl, and he told me that both he and Louis Oosthuizen will be playing on the US PGA Tour next year. When one gets the US PGA card, one has to play a certain number of tournaments and if you don’t have your card, there are only limited events in which you can play. Last year, in those limited events, Charl did very well coming second in one tournament and he has obviously decided, after 8 years on the European Tour to give the US PGA Tour, which is undoubtedly stronger, a bash. There is no doubt that he is extremely talented and there is going to be one more South African featuring well in the tournaments next year. 

Louis Oosthuizen has long been one of my favourite players, and it is great to see, after winning the open, that he has now decided to take the chance and move on up, from the European Tour to the US PGA Tour. The US PGA Tour has amongst it members, the vast majority of the top 10 or 20 ranked players in the world in the competition, as with the financial rewards, are far higher on this tour.