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Branden Grace shocked to make history with 62 round at The Open

By Ali Stafford at Royal Birkdale

Saturday 22 July 2017 16:53, UK

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Branden Grace reflects on shooting the first 62 in a major tournament

Branden Grace admitted he was unaware he had made major history after his record-breaking third round at The Open.

The South African fired the first round of 62 in a men's major, posting eight birdies in a blemish-free display in benign conditions at Royal Birkdale.

Grace reached the turn in 29 and added three more gains over the back nine, but only realised he was making history when his caddie Zack Rasego told him on the 18th green.

Branden Grace of South Africa acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green after shooting a 62, the lowest round in major history, at The 146th Open
Image: Grace was four over after 36 holes

"I honestly didn't know," Grace told reporters. "I was just so in the zone of playing, hole after hole. I knew I was obviously playing really well, and making the turn in five under was pretty special.

"I thought if I could make a couple more on the back nine, then it's going to be a great score. It (shooting 62) makes it even more special than what it was.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Branden Grace of South Africa with his caddie Zak Rasego on the 16th fairway during the third round of the 146th Open Champi
Image: The South African began the day 10 strokes off the pace

"My whole thing on the 18th was trying just not to make bogey. I knocked in the two-footer or three-footer and Zack (Rasego) came up and said 'You're in the history books'.

"I was like, 'What are you talking about?'. So obviously now it makes the day even sweeter."

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Grace jumped from tied-45th to within two of midway leader Jordan Spieth, who had yet to tee off, with the world No 35 rolling in a 15-footer at the first and adding back-to-back birdies from the fourth.

Successive gains from the eighth were followed by long-range birdies at the 14th and 16th, before Grace sealed his historic round with a two-putt gain at the 17th and close-range par at the last.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Branden Grace of South Africa walks down the 16th fairway during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Bir
Image: Grace is in contention to become the fifth South African winner of The Open

"It was nice to start the day off with a birdie on the first, made a nice putt," Grace added. "It always gives you some momentum and some confidence heading into the round.

"Then I just played flawless golf. I think I missed two fairways or two greens the whole day and the putter was hot.

Branden Grace of South Africa celebrates a birdie on the 16th green during the third round of the 146th Open Championship

"I missed a couple of shortish ones, but made a couple of bombs, which was nice. I was really concentrating getting myself back into this tournament, and giving myself a chance tomorrow.

"I feel I'm playing well. And I just want to get out there again tomorrow and try to do something similar, just play some good golf."

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