Peter Oosterhuis

WACHOVIA CHAMPIONSHIP
Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte, North Carolina

May 2, 2007
Wednesday Pro-Am

Peter Oosterhuis has been a familiar part of professional golf for nearly four decades, first as a dominant player on the European Tour, later as a regular on the PGA Tour and now as an announcer for CBS Sports and The Golf Channel. He led the European Tour's Order of Merit four consecutive years beginning in 1971, won 20 tournaments worldwide, played on six Ryder Cup teams and twice finished second in the British Open. In March, Oosterhuis and his wife, Ruth, moved to Charlotte after living in Scottsdale, Ariz., for 10 years. He took a few minutes recently to talk with the Observer's Ron Green Jr. about his new life in Charlotte, his playing days and his television work.

RON GREEN: What brought you to Charlotte?

PETER OOSTERHUIS: It seemed the timing was right. I have friends here that I stayed with during the 1975 Kemper Open (at Quail Hollow).

My wife says it feels like we've been here for five years already, it's so comfortable. We've met other friends through the years. It's just a great town.

Q: You didn't spend much time playing the Champions Tour. Do you play much golf now?

PETER OOSTERHUIS: I play occasionally but not as often as I should.

Q: Your only PGA Tour win came in the 1981 Canadian Open. What do you remember about it?

PETER OOSTERHUIS: In that one, Jack (Nicklaus) missed an eagle putt at the last (hole) that let me win. He had 20 feet and left it short.

I was back at the scoring trailer. When he came by, he smiled and said, `Congratulations, Peter, you've been very patient.' For him to take the time to do that, that was one of the classiest things.

Q: You flirted with winning major championships several times. Did any one in particular stick with you?

PETER OOSTERHUIS:  In 1973, I was leading the Masters by three after the third round. Tommy Aaron birdied the first three holes in the last round, so I was tied before I ever teed off. Later on, I bogeyed the 15th and that cost me.

I had chances in the Open championship. In 1978 when Jack won at St. Andrews for the second time, I was in the final group with Tom Watson. I shot 38 on the back nine to finish three back. That was my best opportunity to win the Open championship.

Q: You played against Nicklaus in his prime and you've watched Tiger Woods do amazing things. How do they compare?

PETER OOSTERHUIS:  The similarities are in their focus and competitiveness. Tiger might be more focused than Jack was. Jack was able to switch it on and off. He was more relaxed between shots. His record of firsts, seconds and thirds was extraordinary.

Tiger's winning percentage when he's in position to win is unbelievable. Tiger has a better short game. Jack made all the important putts when he needed them. Tiger did that, too. But Tiger's short game is up there with the best ever.

If Tiger stays fit and focused, he's going to break all of Jack's records. Therefore, he will become the best ever.

Q: How did you get into television work?

PETER OOSTERHUIS:  In 1986, I didn't play well and Duke Butler was running the Houston tournament. I was on the fringes of playing, and I was trying to get an invitation. He said it would be difficult for me to get an invitation but would I like to do some announcing? Maybe the way I pounced on that opportunity he realized how frustrated I was with my game.

Q: You live in Charlotte, but you won't be here that much, given the schedule you keep.

PETER OOSTERHUIS:  I'm on the road 35 weeks a year, that's three or four more weeks than it has been. The last three weeks of the FedEx Cup playoffs I'll be in Europe.

When people say, `You're on the road all the time,' I say `yeah I am, but I'm at Pebble Beach and Augusta and Hilton Head.' It's really rough, and I'm doing it on somebody else's expenses.