Reigning British Open champion, Ernie Els predicts compatriot Branden Grace, and third round leader in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, to one day join him in capturing golf’s oldest Major.
Grace, 24 continued his domination of the Scottish event adding a day three 69 at Carnoustie, to move to 20-under par in the $US 5m event.
Ernie Els says fellow South African Branden Grace can one day win the Open Championship. (Photo – Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)
Grace set the European Tour alight earlier this year in winning three events in 11 appearances and arrived in Scotland after having captured a Sunshine Tour last week in Fancourt.
His third round at Carnoustie was a mix of six birdies, one bogey and a 15th hole double bogey.
And Grace’s effort this year have been so amazing Els had no hesitation in declaring he could win the Open Championship, and an event he won in 2002 and earlier this year at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
“He’s game is so good Branden could well enough win an Open Championship,” said Els.
“But I’ve been pleased Branden came through my Ernie Els Foundation and we’ve been lucky to get some of the guys like Louis (Oosthuizen) and it’s been good to see them get the break they needed.”
And Els believes that Grace, who will move well inside the top-50 on the World Rankings if he wins this week, says Grace is good enough to play both the European and PGA Tour’s.
“I’m not sure if Branden is going for his PGA Tour card but if he does, he’s good enough to play both Tour’s,” said Els.
“He’s a quality player and he’s established himself here in Europe given he’s now exempt for a couple of years, so he will get a lot more starts in the U.S. now he will be top-50 after this week.
“So he can go the same way as Louis and Charl and myself.”
