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Oosthuizen enjoys Tri-Golf hat-trick thanks to UPS ‘Bags for Birdies’

Tri-Golf is the Golf Foundation golf format for youngsters Louis played the day before winning The Open Championship at St Andrews in 2010 and, after playing it again in 2011 as defending Open Champion, Louis completed a unique hat-trick at Troon; on each occasion he has inspired local youngsters and their watching families who are new to golf.

Louis was making a special guest appearance with the Golf Foundation and ClubGolf Scotland as part of the UPS ‘Bags for Birdies’ campaign. For every birdie or better recorded by Oosthuizen and fellow UPS ambassador Lee Westwood at this year’s four Major Championships, UPS will donate a set of PING Moxie junior clubs to support grass roots golf in eight international territories. After this year’s Open the pair have 78 birdies or better on their scorecards during the Major season.

A minimum of 100 sets of PING Moxie junior clubs will be provided, and at Royal Troon Louis presented sets of these specially designed clubs to young Duncan and Orla, two beginner juniors from Strathaven Golf Club in South Lanarkshire, which is supported by the ClubGolf junior programme for Scotland.

The Golf Foundation and ClubGolf has been selected to receive 12 sets of the PING clubs. The Foundation encourages young people to enjoy the benefits of golf and helps them ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport, reaching 500,000 youngsters a year through its HSBC Golf Roots programme.

Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “This charity is delighted to be a partner of the Bags for Birdies campaign and we wish Lee and Louis all the best as they sink birdie putts to enable UPS and PING to support many youngsters all over the world. This is an innovative and welcome initiative.”

Louis’s ‘Skills for Life’ connection with Tri-Golf

Louis enjoyed swinging the same Tri-Golf clubs that children aged 5-11 use in 5,000 schools, and that he himself tried the day before teeing it up and winning The Open at St Andrews in 2010. On that day he walked across the Old Course in pouring rain and led a triumphant, high-energy Tri-Golf session with youngsters from local schools and clubs. His appearance was a huge hit and turned out to be perfect preparation for his Open victory!

Brendon Pyle said: “Of course, Louis now has legendary status with the Golf Foundation after winning The Open after playing Tri-Golf and then coming back a year later, playing Tri-Golf less than an hour after a pressurised first round as defending Champion. This week’s visit capped a fantastic story thanks to his great work for Bags for Birdies.

“That surely says something about Louis. A great part of what we do as a charity is encouraging kids to learn the ‘Skills for Life’ that golf can offer. I think Louis’s three visits showed that a sense of spirit, respect and sportsmanship are as important as the technical aspects of the game.”

(Picture courtesy of Getty Images)