Familiarity breeds content for Grace

Branden Grace is not sure what his best scores are on the three courses at Fancourt, but he knows that familiarity with the layouts will be his friend during the R3-million Dimension Data Pro-Am being played from tomorrow.

“I think I have gone three-under off the back at The Links, but the other two are much easier for me,” he said. “I think I can play well on them.”

The field of 156 professionals, each paired with an amateur, will play a round on each of the Montagu, Outeniqua and The Links courses, after which there will be a cut to the top 65 professionals and ties for the final round which will be played on the Montagu course.

Players drawn together in one team stay together for the duration of the tournament, with the format betterball medal. The best nett score on each hole will count.

On conclusion of the third round there will be a cut to the leading 25 team scores. All teams making the 54-hole cut will contest the final round, including those professionals who don’t also make the pro cut.

“Playing with the amateurs doesn’t change what we are trying to do, which is win a golf tournament,” said Grace.

“To be honest, I think it helps because it keeps things a little lighter out on the course, and you don’t get so wrapped up in your own game, so it’s actually a great format,” he added.

Perhaps the slightly less intense approach is going to be the factor which gives Grace his maiden win on the Sunshine Tour: “I can’t go out there and push too hard,” he said.

“It’s been two years now that I have been on Tour and haven’t won. I have come close, but I think it’s time now. I’m ready for it. I am hitting the ball well, and if I can just get the putter working, then who knows...”

There were signs at the Africa Open in January in particular that his game is ready for the step up. He blazed round the East London Golf Club in six-under 66, a round that included three eagles.

“I wasn’t even aware of the fact that I shot three eagles,” he said. “It wasn’t till my caddie told me. I was just going out there trying to post a number that might be a challenge to the leaders, and I was trying to make up for any bogey I got in the best and most profitable way possible.”

A victory in this event would be particularly sweet, as Grace has played for most of his golfing life in the George area: “I was at the Fancourt Foundation as a youngster,” he said.

He calibrates his game by playing on the Fancourt courses. “I always make a point of playing The Links before I go and play overseas, because I know if I can shoot under par on that, then I am ready to play just about anywhere,” he said.

After six top-10 finishes on last year’s Sunshine Tour, it certainly seems like time for Grace to graduate: “I have had a bit of a break from tournament golf now, and I have done my practicing – I’m ready and looking forward to the tournament.”