‘Amazing’ Branden Grace has 2010 British Open winner, Louis Oosthuizen and his former caddy, Zach Rasego to thank for extending his lead to five shots at the Old Course on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Grace, 24 teed-up on the famed Home of Golf, and where Oosthuizen won golf’s oldest Major two years ago, a day after having shot a sizzling opening score of 60 a day earlier at nearby Kingsbarns.
‘Amazing’ Branden Grace tees off the 18th on route to a five stroke lead after two days of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. (Photo – Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)
The Pretoria-born Grace birdied four holes in succession mid-round on the Old Course to move to 17-under par in the $US 5m event.
“Playing a practice round with Louis on Wednesday this week on the Old Course and that definitely helped today,” said Grace.
“Louis gave me some lines off the tee which was very helpful, especially with the wind off the left.
“The first six holes are not the easiest driving holes out there, and also having Zach (Rasego – caddy) who caddied for Louis when he won The Open, also helped.
“But then if the likes of Louis and Charl (Schwartzel) were close behind me it would be a different story, but it’s just nice knowing that I’ve beaten them before and I can do it again.
“And when I get to the situation now, I always think of beating Ernie (Els) and Retief (Goosen) in a play-off (Volvo Champions earlier this year), and I think that’s a nice mind-set to have.”
Grace created a sensation earlier this year on the European Tour in winning three events in 11 appearances.
And while he has struggled to duplicate that form he arrived in Scotland having captured last week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Fancount on the South African Sunshine Tour.
Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm matched Grace’s round of 67 on the Old Course to move into 12-under par as the Gothenburg-based golfer looks to win for a first time on the European Tour before Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen also moved to 12-under.
The 27-year old Sjoholm has had three top-10s this year including an eighth in May’s BMW International Open after heading into the final day just one shot off the lead.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer is the best-placed of the four Ryder Cup players competing this week after adding a round of 71 at Kingsbarns to move to three under par.
“I’m very tired, and especially when you don’t make the putts,” he said.
“It has been a little difficult to get motivated and I had that fantastic experience on Sunday, and I’m still very inspired.
“I’m very motivated on one hand, but on the other, your body is just a little tired, and you have to listen to your body.
“And with all the time changes and the part on Sunday night there, it is what it is. But it’s just difficult to motivate yourself sometimes.”
And after Jose Maria Olazabal received a ‘congratulatory’ Ryder Cup communication from the King of Spain, Kaymer said he did not expect a similar message from German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.
“Of course, a few athletes were Twittering and e-mailing me, texting me but No, nothing from the German Chancellor,” he said.
“I’m sure she heard about it but she has better things to do (smiling).”
USA Team rival, Dustin Johnson birdied his last hole at Kingsbarns in a round of 71 to be lying well back in a share of 89th place at one under par.
“I played okay but just got off to a rough start to be two over after eight as I just didn’t hole any putts,” he said.
“I had seven putts lip out today or something crazy like that.”
