Oosthuizen switches to US PGA Tour

Ponte Vedra Beach: Reigning British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and compatriot Charl Schwartzel have joined the US PGA Tour for the 2011 season, the tour announced on its website.

Oosthuizen, ranked 23rd in the world, captured the Claret Jug last July at St. Andrews, defeating current world number one Lee Westwood of England by seven shots. Oosthuizen, 28, has struggled with torn left ankle ligaments but returned to competition earlier this month.Schwartzel, 26, has won five times on the European Tour, twice this year. The 37th-world ranked South African was second to compatriot Ernie Els at the World Golf Championships CA Championship last March at Doral.While Oosthuizen earned a five-year US PGA Tour spot as a result of his British Open triumph, Schwartzel won enough money as a non-member this year to claim a place in the top 125 US PGA money winners and thereby a 2011 berth. AFP