US PGA GolfPunks: Branden Grace

Brandon Grace looks the real deal. Proven winner, he’s just 27, and has 6 European tour wins already. So what else do we know about him? Well apparently he likes a drink… 

Grace emerged on tour in 2012. He’d got his card on the European Tour through Tour School, but the South African took advantage of the early season co-sanctioned Sunshine tour events, winning the Joburg Open, before beating his childhood heroes Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen in a playoff at the Volvo Champions at Fancourt. Considering he graduated from the Ernie Els and Rancourt Foundation as a kid, this meant a lot to him. 

“I’ve been part of the Fancourt Foundation. They looked after me. It was awesome. We were a small group of kids and they did everything for us then, tried to make it as easy as possible. I went on to the Ernie Els Foundation from there and it’s the same thing, all learning curves and getting the kids to do the things right and in the proper way”

He followed that up with a win at the Volvo Champions in China beating Nick Colsaerts and then won again at Fancout on the Sunshine tour before the year was out. 

He’s won twice this season at the commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Alfred Dunhill Championships.

His best major finish came at the US Open, having been tied for the lead with Jordan Spieth in the final group, he shot a one over 71 to finish fourth. Other than for one shot Grace had played the best golf in the final round.

But what about off the course. 

He’s known on tour for his love of drinking shots on a night out.

He proposed to his girlfriend at The Masters. He wanted to do it on Magnolia Drive, but forgot the ring in his briefcase. When he asked her to bring it to the course she forgot too. So he ended up proposing in bed.

He’s related to fellow South African Tour pros Michiel Bothma and Darren Fichardt.