Louis Oosthuizen: Inside the golf bag of an Open champion

Golfers are meticulous in their planning for major tournaments.

From hours spent on the practice ranges and putting greens, to testing new clubs and equipment, no stone gets left unturned.

Louis Oosthuizen is no different. The South African golfer is competing at this year’s Open Championship, the tournament he won in 2010 to record his only victory in a major.

Ahead of his second round at the unforgiving Carnoustie golf course, in which he carded an impressive round of even par in difficult conditions, Oosthuizen talked CNN Living Golf’s Shane O’Donoghue through the contents of his bag.

Francesco Molinari celebrates after sinking a putt on the last hole of the Open Championship on Sunday, July 22. He won by two strokes for his first career major.

Molinari kisses the Claret Jug after the final round. He is the first Italian to win a major.

A look at the final Open leaderboard and its traditional note of congratulations.

Jordan Spieth plays out of the rough on the sixth hole Sunday. He was tied for the lead after Saturday but struggled on Sunday and finished four back.

Tiger Woods plays a shot from the ninth tee on Sunday. He had the lead at one point but finished three strokes back.

Rory McIlroy reacts after sinking a long eagle putt on the 14th hole Sunday. He was among a group of golfers who finished tied for second.

Rickie Fowler plays a tee shot on the third hole Sunday.

A greenskeeper trims the edges of a hole during the final round of the Open.

Tyrrell Hatton plays a shot from the rough on Sunday.

Tommy Fleetwood greets fans as he walks to the second hole on Sunday.

Zach Johnson throws a ball to his caddie during the third round on Saturday.

Zander Lombard throws a ball to the crowd after an eagle on the 18th hole Saturday.

Spieth tees off the third hole Saturday.

Xander Schauffele chips from a bunker during the third round.

Cameramen film Spieth's second shot on the 14th hole Saturday.

Kevin Kisner on the first tee Saturday. He and Johnson shared the lead going into the weekend.

Fans are reflected in sunglasses on Saturday.

Woods celebrates on the 18th hole Saturday.

McIlroy reacts to a missed eagle putt on Saturday.

Woods tees off on the fifth hole Saturday.

Fans don USA-themed trousers on the third day of the Open.

Johnson celebrates a birdie on the 18th hole Friday.

McIlroy plays a tee shot Friday.

Woods plays a shot on the second hole on Friday. He shot an even-par 71 for the second straight round.

Tommy Fleetwood pumps his fist after a birdie on No. 18 on Friday. He finished with a 65.

Kisner reads a green on Friday.

Woods tees off from No. 10 during the first round on Thursday. It was his first time back at the Open since 2015.

Kisner hits a bunker shot Thursday. He was the first-round leader after a 5-under 66. Three people were behind him at 4-under.

A view of McIlroy's soles. He was three strokes back after round one.

A course marshal uses a rangefinder during first-round play.

Dustin Johnson plays his tee shot on the ninth hole Thursday. The dark clouds symbolized his tough first round (5-over). He ended up missing the cut.

Paul Casey watches a tee shot on Thursday.

Woods lines up a putt on the first green Thursday.

Haraldur Magnus hits a tee shot on No. 18.

Brooks Koepka, who won the US Open in June, reacts after a wayward shot on Thursday.

The best photos of the 2018 British Open

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It includes no less than 19 clubs, so spare a thought for his caddie Greg Hearmon.

“He’s a strong boy!” Oosthuizen quips.

“We call him A-Grade,” he laughs, pointing at Hearmon, his caddie for the Open 2018. “Because I’ve got two – B-Grade is at home,” he jokes, referring to Wynand Stander.

“I’ve got quite a few new toys here that I need to test out. I normally have a seven-wood in here as well, but I left that at home.”

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Oosthuizen knows just how vital having a talented caddie is to winning a major trophy.

His caddie at the time of his 2010 Open victory was Zack Rasego, who Oosthuizen was reportedly set to part ways with due to a string of bad performances.

Louis Oosthuizen celebrates with the Claret Jug after winning the Open in 2010.

But the pair clicked back into gear ahead of the week in St. Andrews and Oosthuizen recorded the greatest win of his career.

The 35-year-old now switches between Hearmon and Stander – but neither ever choose what goes in the bag.

“Between him and Wynand they have a rule: They don’t help with selecting clubs … because that’s when they can get fired!” he laughs.

“So that’s my job.”