Branden Grace: Sights set on U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

Branden Grace, 29, looks to carry on the tradition of South African golfers contending in the sport’s biggest events. As a big summer approaches, he has his sights set firmly on the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Branden Grace’s breakthrough year came in 2012 when he won four times on the European Tour. His win at the Joburg Open was quickly followed up in succession the week after by winning the Volvo Golf Champions. This made him the first player since Fred Couples in 1995 to follow his maiden triumph with another consecutively. Not a bad comparison to have in your favor.

Since then he has racked up a total of 12 professional wins across three different tours, including the PGA Tour with the RBC Heritage in 2016.

The all important major championship currently eludes the Pretoria native. However, with five top-six finishes in majors since 2015, he is coming very close to adding his name to the impressive list of champions from his home country.

“I don’t really feel the pressure,” said Grace, when we spoke with him at the Masters.

“I feel like I am playing well in the majors. I think I’ve only been in the majors only for four or five years now so I’ve probably still got a lot of majors ahead of myself.”

Branden Grace looks to go from close calls to closing at majors

The Masters has been the tricky one out of the four for the South African, having made three cuts from a possible six.

Though he has been ever so close in both the US Open and the US PGA Championship.

In 2015, he led the US Open at Chambers Bay through 54 holes, and was even still tied for the lead in the final round going into the 16th hole before a wayward tee shot out of bounds led to a double bogey which pushed him out of contention.

During the third round of last year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Grace broke major history becoming the only player to have ever carded a sub-63 score with an 8-under 62.

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Which major best fits Branden Grace’s game? We asked him.

“I’d take any major to be quite honest,” laughed Grace.

“I think a U.S. Open maybe suits me the best, a lot of people say the [British] Open but for me it is the U.S. Open. I would like to say I am more of a grinder of a golf course so maybe a U.S. Open. I am really looking forward to Shinnecock.”

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The 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge winner didn’t have the best week at Augusta National, but managed to make the cut and a final round of 67 saw him finish tied 24th with a one-under-par for the week.

Despite not being in the mix on Sunday, Grace believes he is still playing well.

“It is small things that is leading to three-putts or maybe it is trying too hard, especially knowing I am playing well,” explained the 29-year-old.

"“The worst thing to have in your mind is to come to a tournament expecting that you’re going to do well, knowing that you’re playing well and doing everything that you should be doing and then not making the most out of it.”"

The U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is the next stop on the 2018 major tour in two months’ time, before The Open in July and finishing with the USPGA in August.

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As we wrapped our conversation with Grace, he added: “I think I am in there for a good shout. I am excited for the majors and I have proven myself playing well in them. I feel I can take the pressure and take the heat.

“It is a case of one or two balances going your way – like one putt lipping in instead of lipping out.”

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