South African Branden Grace is even more amazing after shooting a new course record 60 at Kingsbarns on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Grace, 24 birdied his closing five holes for a 12-under par score in glorious scoring conditions at the Kingsbarns course on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
The Springbok golfer’s effort at Kingsbarns to the east of St. Andrews, and one of three courses hosted the $US 5m event, was two strokes better than the previous course record of a nine-under par 62 set by England’s Lee Westwood on route to victory in 2003.
Grace’s score is also three strokes fewer than a previous Tour low of 63 he recorded in last year’s Joburg Open and earlier this season in the Africa Open.
His 60 is also the lowest on Tour since England’s Kenneth Ferrie shot a course record similar score in last year’s Open de Andalucia.
But unlike the PGA Tour, no player has yet to record a 59 in the 40-year history of the European Tour.
The Pretoria-born Grace set the Tour alight earlier this year winning three events in just 11 appearances.
“It could have been a 59 and I said to my caddy when I hit it stiff on 18 that it could be close to a 59,” said Grace.
“I had some opportunities, but you know, I never really made anything long.
“They were 12‑ to 15‑footers in, which was nice, and it’s nice just to have a bogey‑free round on a links course.
“You can say Kingsbarns is the easier one out of the three courses, but it’s nice to get in these conditions and you can take advantage of it.
“But that round has to be my best ever. I won last year back home and the final round, the conditions were tough and it was playing long and I think it was good prep for this week.”
And Frenchman Victor Dubuisson produced a new course record of a nine-under par 62 on the famed Old Course at St. Andrews despite dropping a shot at his 16th hole.
Dubuisson’s round is one stroke fewer than the previous low of 63 set by three players including Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy during the 2010 Open Championship.
