PACIFIC PALISADES, California - British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is making his first visit to Los Angeles for this week's PGA Tour event and has singled out one tourist attraction as his top priority.

"I'm still looking around for the Hollywood sign," South African Oosthuizen, grinning ear to ear, said while preparing for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.

"Once I see that, I'll know I'm in LA. Whenever you're here you want to see that sign."

Told that the iconic landmark was located a few miles east of Riviera, the jet-lagged Oosthuizen said with a smile: "I don't know which way is east. I'm still on Qatar time."

Oosthuizen, who clinched his first major title with a crushing seven-shot victory in last year's British Open at St. Andrews, has arrived in the United States after playing two European Tour events in the United Arab Emirates.

Although still struggling with his body clock, he was excited to be at Riviera where he will compete for the first time on the PGA Tour as a full member.

"I've always, as a little boy, wanted to play in America, wanted to at least try," the 28-year-old said. "So I just felt like with the (British Open) exemptions I've got now, it's a great time to do it.

"I want to at least give myself a few years just to see if I like it. I know what it is (like) back in Europe."

Oosthuizen, who won his second European Tour title at the Africa Open in January, liked what he saw of the par-71 Riviera layout after playing the back nine in practice with American Zach Johnson on a drizzly morning.

"I enjoy playing off kikuyu," he said of the grass which is prevalent in his homeland. "The greens were quite firm this morning, and it was really fast. I've got to get used to the greens with the speed."

Asked how close his game was to the spectacular level he produced at St. Andrews, Oosthuizen said: "My confidence is getting to that level again.

"I felt like I played really nice in Qatar, just the last round I struggled off the tee and the rough was very severe. I took a lot of confidence out of that tournament."

Reuters

(China Daily 02/17/2011 page22)