Young Branden Grace takes over Retief Goosen and Ernie Els to land the Volvo Golf Champions title
It was again a showdown between “Flare vs. Method” as the young Branden Grace surged to the top of the leaderboard yet again at the second European Tour event, Volvo Golf Champions, taking over the grizzled Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. This time around, however, Flare had an edge over Method.
Grace surged to the top, bagging his second consecutive title on the European Tour, after a stunning victory at the season-opener Joburg Open in South Africa.
Finishing for a joint 12-under, 280 on the aggregate, the trio was pitched into the Playoffs.
While young Grace was facing the toughest of the South African veterans, he never let go off his composure. Grace won the title on the first Playoff as the veterans faltered in their approach.
"I'm really ecstatic," said Grace after his two-putt birdie at the first extra hole. "It's a dream come true to win such a big event - pretty much the best tournament I've played in so far".
Poised at 258th on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), at the start of the season, the 23-year-old has successfully moved into the top-100, for the first time in his career.
He is now also pitched at the top of the Race to Dubai Money List, brightening his chances for an inclusion in the Ryder Cup team.
Qualifying for the tour card just a month ago, Grace would never have made it into the 35-player invite-only field at the event if he had not won the season-opener Joburg Open.
The young prodigy has made quintessential use of his knowhow of the local courses, soaring to the zenith of his career in early age.
Taking over the legendary South African players on the Playoff was no less than an honour in itself and Grace was well aware of his gigantic accomplishment in this regard.
"I've beaten Ernie and Retief in a playoff," he added, "and I know that I can do it again".
He is now on top of the money list with an inflated cheque of € 350,000 with the title. Goosen and Els finished for a joint second, both winning a runner-up prize share of € 177,500.
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