Oosthuizen Wins PGA Championship Long Drive Competition


Diminutive South African Louis Oosthuizen proved to be the winner of the revived Long Drive Competition at the just-completed PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

The event was held during Tuesday's practice round on the 590-yard, par-5 10th hole. Reviving an event that began at the 1952 PGA Championship at Big Spring Country Club in Louisville, the PGA of America offered all players in the field the opportunity to hit one tee shot. The ball had to come to rest in the fairway to be eligible to win.

Adam Scott, 2013 Masters' champion, set the target with the very first shot on the hole, at 7 a.m. His 320-yard drive held up for several hours until he was passed by 2011 PGA winner Keegan Bradley (326 yards), then moments later by Rickie Fowler (328 yards).

Later, Jason Day passed all of them with a 338-yard wallop, but the Aussie was surpassed later in the afternoon by Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, who hit it 340 yards. PGA club professional Johan Kok was third at 337 yards.

Oosthuizen, Day and Kok each received a money clip inspired by the one that Jack Nicklaus received in the first of his two consecutive PGA Championship Driving Contest titles, in 1963. That year, Nicklaus, using a persimmon driver and wound golf ball, hit a winning drive of 341 yards, 17 inches.

Additionally, through PGA REACH, the foundation of the PGA of America, Oosthuizen, Day and Kok are provided charitable donations of $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000, respectively, with the funds split equally between the players' designated charity and the American Lake Veterans Golf Course, in Tacoma, Wash. Designed by Nicklaus, the American Lake Veterans Golf Course is the nation's only golf course built specifically for the rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans.

"I thought it was a great addition. We all loved it. We all had fun with it," said 2005 PGA champion Phil Mickelson, who was in the same group as Fowler and Bradley. "And we had the feedback right there to let you know how far the drive was. I thought it was terrific. I hope they keep doing it."

Final Results of the 2014 PGA Championship Long Drive Championship

1. Louis Oosthuizen - 340 yards
2. Jason Day - 338 yards
3. Johan Kok - 337 yards
4. Gary Woodland - 330 yards
5. Rickie Fowler - 328 yards
6. Keegan Bradley - 326 yards
7. Danny Willett - 322 yards
8. Adam Scott - 320 yards
9. Sergio Garcia - 320 yards
10. Scott Piercy - 320 yards

The above report is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.