Oosthuizen struggled to carry Augusta albatross

The top two South Africans in the world now that Ernie Els and Retief Goosen have slipped down the rankings have moved on to the Maybank Malaysian Open and will be playing partners in the first two rounds.

One of the Augusta traditions is that the previous year’s winner welcomes the new champion into the club.

But it was American Bubba Watson that Schwartzel was congratulating after he beat Oosthuizen at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off.

The Masters will not forget Oosthuizen after his albatross two – or double eagle as it is known in America – on the second hole in the final round.

Oosthuizen, however, admits: “It was tough after that double eagle. When something like that happens you think that this is it – that was my first double eagle ever – so it was tough the next five holes to just get my head around it and just play the course.”

Yorkshire drew 9-9 with Lincolnshire at Elsham in their latest pre-season fixture. The Northern Counties season begins on May 12 against Cheshire.