Branden Grace Wins South African Open
The 31-year-old won his national Open for the first time after an incredible 62 featuring eight birdies and an eagle
The 31-year-old won his national Open for the first time after an incredible 62 featuring eight birdies and an eagle
Branden Grace Wins South African Open
Branden Grace shot a final round 62 to win his home Open for the first time in his career.
The South African started the day four behind countryman Louis Oosthuizen but a blistering round containing eight birdies and an eagle saw him fire past.
Grace now has nine European Tour titles and his win was his first anywhere for over two years after his Nedbank Golf Challenge title in November 2017.
The 31-year-old jumps from 129th in the world to 73rd.
Related: Branden Grace What's in the bag? - South African Open winning clubs
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Oosthuizen might not have won but he did make a memory of a lifetime with a hole-in-one during his bogey-free final round.
The 2010 Open champion shot three under with a birdie, an eagle and 16 pars but will rue pars on all three of the par-5s.
Another great story from the week was that of Englishman Marcus Armitage who finished in 3rd.
The World No.1398 birdied the 72nd hole to finish 3rd alone and qualify for the Open Championship.
It was also a great week for 18-year-old amateur Jayden Trey Schaper who finished in T6th to win the low amateur honours.
"That was remarkable," Branden Grace said after his winning 62.
"I played flawless golf and I can't remember the last time the putter was that hot.
"This is the one I really wanted.
"This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it's such an emotional feeling.
"It's the first win with the little one here so he's going to have a photo with the trophy and then it's a good birthday wish to my Mrs today, she's a birthday girl today so it's a good birthday present."
Watch highlights of Grace's final round -
2020 South African Open Leaderboard:
1 Branden Grace -21
2 Louis Oosthuizen -18
3 Marcus Armitage -16
4 Jack Senior -15
4 Jaco Ahlers -15
6 Hennie Du Plessis -14
6 George Coetzee -14
6 JC Ritchie -14
6 Andy Sullivan -14
6 Jayden Trey Schaper (amateur) -14
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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