Volvo Golf Champions on European Tour culminates with Branden Grace on top
The second event on the European Tour calendar, the Volvo Golf Champions, has successfully culminated with young South African Prodigy, Branden Grace at the top.
The four-day event was a strictly invite-only event on the tour, where the 35-player field included players who have been invited by the tour and marked one of the grizzled veterans on the field.
Grace, who had already won the season-opener Joburg Open, bagged yet another title on the first Playoff hole, wrestling his way against the formidable Retief Goosen and Ernie Els.
Grace missed the putt at the final hole on Sunday, January 22, which would otherwise, have given him an outright winner status for the title.
He went over for the first Playoff, sinking a birdie while Goosen and Els missed the opportunity to break their respective winless streaks.
Grace said, "It's a dream come true to win such a big event - pretty much the best tournament I've played in so far. When I missed the putt in regulation, I didn't really think I had a bad putt. I might have slightly misread the line a little bit, but I think it's one of those things where you don't want to overdo it”.
The young South African managed to grab the lead in the second round of the Volvo Golf Champions after Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts succumbed to a sloppy round on the second day.
Colsaerts broke the course record with nine-under, 64 in the opening round but failed to keep up with the pace of the proceedings.
The 23-year-old, who had recently won his tour card via the qualifying rounds, lost his lead on the third day.
He fell for a disastrous 75, yet lingered on with hopes to make it through in the final round.
He managed a humble two-under, 71 on the final day, good enough to forge a playoff against two of the strongest foes on the South African turf.
Els had shot a blistering six-under, 67 on the final day while Goosen relied mostly on his previous performances over the weekend, at the scenic The Links at Fancourt, to stay in contention.
Although, Els failed to lift the title yet again, he was far from disappointed from his performance over the week.
Els said, "A couple more putts here and there and that could have been something special. It's a very encouraging week, all four rounds under par, and I'm working on some good stuff".
Colsaerts came back with a strong and impressive putting but fell for a bogey-six to settle for an outright fourth.
Masters winner Charl Schwartzel settled for an outright fifth, failing to meet the expectations of the crowd.
Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal finished further two shots down the leaderboard with eight-under, 284, trailing the leaders by four shots.
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