Golf: Grace is the word as Branden flowers

IT has happened before, but not often. Only five times previously has a golfer recorded his first two European Tour victories back to back. And now, a 23-year-old South African by the name of Branden Grace is the sixth on that elite list, following his wins at the Joburg Open and the Volvo Golf Champions event.

A recent (and repeat) graduate of the 108-hole grind known as the European tour qualifying school, Grace has already far outstripped his rookie season. Back in 2009, 26 appearances produced only two top-20 finishes and, not surprisingly, left the former South African Amateur champion (stroke play version) in a lowly and thoroughly undistinguished 148th spot on the Order of Merit. For the then 20-year-old it was a salutary lesson, one he has not forgotten.

“The last time I made it on to the European Tour everything was happening a bit too quickly for me,” he said this week after – not surprisingly – missing the cut in Abu Dhabi. “I thought I’d turned pro at the right time – just after I’d been to Europe to play in many of the big amateur events. Then I had four top-tens in my first seven starts on the Challenge Tour. So I wasn’t surprised when I made it through the tour school at my first attempt.

“I even started decently in 2009, but it didn’t last. I got a bit ahead of myself, a bit big-headed. There were one or two nights out as well. Then one or two more. I was taking it all for granted. But I’ve learned that lesson. I know what you need to do and how hard you have to work to stay on tour. I’ll be doing that this time round. I can see how many talented guys are out here. If I don’t give it my all I won’t keep up. I’m a better golfer and a better person than I was in 2009.”

That has certainly been true over the last two weeks. After pipping England’s Jamie Elson to the Joburg title, Grace went to the Gary Player-designed Fancourt Links just outside his hometown of George and won again, this time in a play-off over two fellow South Africans you may have heard of – Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

“I don’t know where my head is,” admits Grace. “It has been amazing. Everything has gone my way recently. And, of course, it all has huge implications for me going forward. To win once was great but to follow it up was unbelievable.

“I’ve played well for the last year to be honest. I was on the Challenge Tour last year and hit the ball great without ever being able to finish things off with a win. I just didn’t make the putts you have to make at the right times. I was close a couple of times, but made some bad decisions down the stretch. The biggest thing now though, is having the absolute knowledge that I definitely can win. It’s not just an inner belief, everyone knows I can do it now, even against a really good field. Beating two legends like Ernie and Retief is huge for my confidence. If I can take them on and win I see no reason why I shouldn’t do the same if I ever get the chance against the likes of Luke Donald or Lee Westwood.”

Many, too, are the tangible benefits Grace will derive from his faster-than-fast start to the new season. Already he is all but guaranteed a spot in the Open Championship off the money list he currently tops. His newly minted world ranking of 94 – up 166 places in the space of a fortnight – will, if he maintains it, see him into the USPGA Championship. And he is ensured a place in at least two of the World Golf Championship events in the United States. All a far cry for a lad who, no more than three weeks ago, had no ambition beyond the retention of his newly reacquired European playing rights and, maybe, sneaking into the fields at bigger European events such as the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and our own Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. He said: “I would have been happy just to keep my card this year.

“It’s not as if I’ve entered a whole new world but it’s definitely a bigger world.”

All of which is not to say that Grace did not arrive back in the big-time armed with a specific plan for, at first, survival then improvement.

“Since the South African Open last year I’ve tried to be much more positive and definite on the course,” he reveals. “I now write messages to myself in my yardage book, little reminders to myself about what shots and lines worked the day before. Sometimes it’s as basic as ‘hit the same shot’. That stops me from second-guessing myself. So I focus on one thing, one shot. It’s nearly always best to stick to your first thought. And that has helped keep things simple for me.

“Another thing I have worked on is my pace of play. I used to be very quick. Now I’m a lot slower and take my time. None of that sounds like much but it all adds up and has helped me perform better more often. All of those things contributed to my two victories.”

Managed by Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management group, Grace is a proud South African and keen to follow in the footsteps of his many compatriots who strode the world’s fairways with such distinction over the last century and a bit.

“We South Africans do have high expectations when it comes to golf,” he says with a smile. “We’ve had some great players down the years, starting with (four-time Open winner) Bobby Locke and (nine-time major champion) Player. And, strangely, they have nearly always come along in pairs. I grew up watching Ernie (three major victories) and Retief (two). Then along came (former Masters champion) Trevor Immelman and Tim Clark. Now we have (reigning Masters champion) Charl Schwartzel and (2010 Open winner) Louis Oosthuizen. And nearly all of them have won majors. Only Tim has not and he has a Players Championship to his name, the next best thing. I’d like to think I’ll be next on that list, although I’m not sure who my sidekick could or will be. George Coetzee is a great friend of mine. We have played together at every level. So it would be nice if he and I could carry on the tradition.

“The next 12 months are going to be huge for me. The top 50 in the world by the end of the year is a realistic goal if I continue to play well. I don’t have many points to defend from last year so that helps. I have a taste for winning now too. So I want more of that. But the top 50 is the thing. If I do that I can play almost wherever I want. There is such a difference between 50 and 51 in this business.”

And, of course, between winning and losing – a vital distinction Branden Grace now understands better than most.