Branden Grace has a mixed bag of results to show for his debut season on the PGA Tour, including three top-25s and four cuts made in six starts.
His best showing so far was tied-fifth at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, but on US soil he topped off with a share of 23rd at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
The 27-year-old has played few events of the regular PGA Tour season and this week he continues the grind at the RBC Heritage, where he tied for seventh place last year.
Grace is a rookie on the PGA Tour, despite ranking 14th in the world. He played Harbour Town Golf Links in 2015 on a sponsor’s invitation and broke 70 in three of his four rounds, so the track suits his eye.
He missed the cut at The Masters last week, but that can be put down to tough conditions. Prior to his stumble at Augusta National Grace won three of his four matches in the group stages of the WGC-Dell Match Play.
He has all the right elements for success on the PGA Tour. First off he can hit the ball a very long way, which is crucial at many of the bombers’ tracks on the rotation.
Secondly, he grew up playing in the coastal conditions of George, so he has a deep arsenal of shots to choose from.
Finally, he is clutch. Putting has been a problem for Grace in years gone by, but he plays his best golf under pressure. Outside of an errant tee shot that cost him a shot at the US Open in 2015 he has been superb under the gun.
While making a name for himself in 2012 he beat Retief Goosen and Ernie Els in a playoff, while at the end of last year he went five for zero in wins at the Presidents Cup.
The young star from Fancourt has settled in well on the PGA Tour and must seek to continue playing at the weekend. He’s got a shot at breaking through this week, but needs to manage his desire to become a PGA Tour champion, which is surely coming in the future.
