South Africa’s Branden Grace wrote himself into Major history on Saturday by becoming the first player to shoot lower than 63 in a Major, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Grace rewrote the history books at Royal Birkdale by producing a flawless round of 62, after starting with a birdie on the first hole and making his eighth and history-making birdie on the par 5 17th.
The 29-year-old stormed up the leaderboard with a stunning front nine 29 which quickly erased the disappointment from Friday’s 74. His back nine was less than spectacular with just one birdie eventually coming at the 14th. He lipped out for birdie on the first of the back nine’s par 5s, which had the world’s audience doubting whether he would become the first player to reach the magical 62 mark.
Needing two birdies in his last three holes, he wrapped the first two on 16 and 17 with a sublime putt on 16 and a two-putt birdie on the penultimate hole, allowing him the comfort that no player in the history of the game has had, with just a par required on the final hole.
The nerves were palpable as he stood on the final tee box, and the seven-time European Tour winner duly negated any fears by finding the first cut with his drive and leaving only 164 yards into the pin. His iron shot sailed to the back of the green, meaning he had his work cut out to save par from off the back of the green.
With the sun shining and no wind to speak of, Grace rolled his birdie try to within a couple of feet, before tapping in the 28th and final putt of his round.
‘I wasn’t aware of the record. My caddie was up there saying “congrats – you’re in the history books” – I had no idea. It was a special round – I played really good, really good from tee to green,’ said Grace shortly after his round.
The newspapers, website and social media avalanche will follow, and rightly so after 157 years without a 62 before Grace’s waltz around Royal Birkdale.
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
