Grace Earns First EPGA Win at Joburg Open
Branden Grace built a big lead after 54 holes, played steady golf down the stretch and earned his first career European Tour victory at the Joburg Open. He pushed his lead to three shots through the first three rounds and controlled his game with 16 pars, one birdie and just one bogey during his final round. Grace closed out the event with a one-shot victory and put himself in great position for a standout year on Tour.
Grace played an FT Tour Driver, Diablo Octane Tour Fairway Wood, Diablo Edge Tour Hybrid, X-Forged Irons, a Tour i(s) Golf Ball and an Odyssey Black Series Tour Designs Wide #1 Putter at the Joburg Open. He shot 67-66-65-72 and finished the week at 17-under. This victory is a huge leap forward for the 23-year-old, who played primarily on the Challenge Tour after turning professional and went through Qualifying School to clinch his European Tour status for 2012.
"It's a dream come true," said Grace, who won the event on his native soil in South Africa. "It's nice to win in front of a home crowd and I wouldn't exchange it for anything else." Grace also became the first Qualifying School graduate to win on the European Tour since 2010, and he savored the biggest moment of his young career. "I'll never forget that feeling walking up to the 18th green knowing that I had done it –that this was my week."
Grace jumped almost 100 spots on the official world golf rankings and moved into first place on the early Race to Dubai standings. He recorded the first win by a Callaway Staff Pro and highlighted a great week for Callaway at the Joburg Open, where David Drysdale also finished T3 at 14-under. For more information on all of our Callaway Staff Pros, please visit our Tour section.