Louis Oosthuizen heads into the weekend of the South African Open only four strokes off the lead. But with his wife expected to go into labour at any moment, Oosthuizen declared that he would not think twice about walking off the golf course to be with her.

"If this baby is anything like Nel-Marie, it will be fighting to get out of there as soon as possible; if it´s like me, next week is time enough," said Oosthuizen, whose second round three-under-par 69 left him just four shots adrift of leader Pablo Martin of Spain.

"It´s our first baby and I really want to share the experience with her. The deal is that if she goes into labour today or tomorrow, I´ll go home straightaway. But if I am in contention on Sunday, I will talk to the doctor and make a decision."

"I don´t know much about these things, labour I mean, but the doctor said it could go quickly or take quite long. So I will take his advice. It there´s enough time for me to get to Mossel Bay to be there for the birth, I´ll go. If he tells me I won´t make it, I´ll stay and play."

Oosthuizen´s wife is at their home at Pinnacle Point, impatiently awaiting their first born.

"She is surrounded by our family members; we´ve covered all the bases. All I asked is that they keep me up to date. But I still feel like I´m treading on eggshells."

The South African, who tied for 65th last year, was challenging for the title and Order of Merit honours in 2007. Oosthuizen tied for third in the tournament and finished second on the money list behind countryman James Kingston, who won both.