Branden Grace is set to upstage some of the greatest names in European golf after moving four shots clear of the field on day three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Grace, 24 posted a third round 69 at Carnoustie for a 20-under par tally and maintain his stranglehold on the $US5m event.
The South African won three European Tour events earlier this year and if the Peretoria-born Grace were to win a fourth he would become a younger winner of four events, let alone four in a single season, than the likes of Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els.
And only one player in the 40-year history of the European Tour, the late Seve Ballesteros, was younger at age 20 in first winning four events in a season.
“I’ve dreamt of picking up any trophy and standing on the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th at St. Andrews, so maybe this time tomorrow it will happen,” said Grace.
“I didn’t play particularly well but managed to get it around. I hit a couple of loose shots but you expect to hit a couple of bad shots out there but I kept fighting.”
And Els, who is yet to win the Alfred Dunhill Links event, believes Grace is so talented he will one day duplicate his own effort in winning the Open Championship.
“He’s game is so good Branden could well enough win an Open Championship,” said Els after he shot a 65 at St. Andrews to move to a share of 29th place on eight under par.
Grace is a graduate of Els’ ‘Ernie Els Golf Foundation’ that the four-time Major Champion set up in 1999.
However it was not to 2007 that Els became fully aware of Grace when the then 19-year old finished the leading amateur when Els captured the 2007 South African Open.
“Branden has always been a quality player, and he’s really come on now,” said Els.
“So he’s a world contender now; wherever he plays, he’s got a chance to win now.
“He was in my Foundation, so whenever I have the opportunity, I will go down there, especially in December, we do clinics and I’ll hang with the guys and so forth.
“But Branden is one of those guys that just from watching him, he’s learning. He doesn’t have to say much. He keeps watching and learning that way.”
The current World No. 49 ranked Grace will collect a $US800,000 should he claim victory on the Old Course at St. Andrews and also be assured of moving well inside the top-50.
If so, it will open the door for Grace to join Els and other South African Major winners in Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen competing full time on the PGA Tour.
“Branden is good enough to play both tours,” said Els.
“He’s established himself now here in Europe, and he’s got a couple of years exemption plus he’ll probably get more starts in the States.
“If he wins he’ll well inside the top-50 so he could go the same way as Louis (Oosthuizen) and Charl (Schwartzel) and myself.”
USA Ryder Cup star, Dustin Johnson ensured he will play all four rounds after posting a third round 67 on the Old Course to move to six under par.
Also making the five under par cut were European Team players Martin Kaymer (69) and also on six under par.
And at five under is Sweden’s Peter Hanson (69) while Scotland’s Paul Lawrie (68) to miss the cut by two on three under par.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and amateur Hugh Connerty Jnr head the team event by five shots on 33-under par.
