Oosthuizen looking to reach next level

Louis Oosthuizen is looking forward to this week's Dubai Desert Classic as the South African aims to shrug off his bridesmaid tag after recording a second successive runner-up finish last week in Qatar.

The 26-year-old followed up his near-miss in Abu Dhabi with a second-placed finish behind Spain's Alvaro Quiros on Sunday, although he was fortunate to join Henrik Stenson three shots adrift after the Swede bogeyed the last before Oosthuizen took full advantage with a closing birdie.

In Abu Dhabi he had stormed up the final round leaderboard and only just fell short of catching a slumping Paul Casey.

But a week later in Doha, having set the tournament alight with a bogey-free second round 65, he was never really seen as a genuine contender on Sunday.

But his form, which has seen him rise 76 places in the world rankings since the start of the year to 58, coupled with his third-placed finish behind Tiger Woods last year which was earned with a final round 65, suggests he is again set to be in contention for a maiden European Tour title.

‘I've been playing well. My last round in Doha was the only round in the 70s from my last eight rounds,’ said Oosthuizen, who has moved up to fifth place on the Race to Dubai.

‘Over the last year or so, working with (coach) Pete (Cowan), we are getting where we want to be and I feel like I'm swinging it really good.

‘And I'm looking forward to the year and I know now that I can definitely win one so I'm looking forward to next week and the rest of the year. I like next week's course and I'm definitely looking forward to it.’

In Dubai 12 months ago, Oosthuizen, who is a five-time winner in his native South Africa, set the final round clubhouse lead at 12-under-par before being incredibly dislodged by world number one Woods.

He slipped down to third with Ernie Els after Martin Kaymer produced a birdie-birdie-eagle finish.