BRANDEN GRACE EQUALLED the European Tour record with a 12-under 60 to open the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship today.
Grace carded an eagle and 10 birdies, including five in a row at one point, at Kingsbarns to break Englishman Lee Westwood’s course record by two strokes.
The South African, who has won three European Tour titles this season, became the 14th player to card 60 on the Tour and, he says, ”It could have been a 59.”
“I just gave myself a lot of chances and made everything I looked at; not that I had any major long putts or anything like that, but I just had a lot of 15-footers to tap-ins the whole day and could have been one better or two better which would really be nice.”
Frenchman Victor Dubuisson is second after shooting a 10-under 62, followed by Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen on nine under.
Australia’s Ashley Hall and Swedes Alexander Noren and Fredrik Andersson Hed are tied for fourth on eight under.
South African Anton Haig, Jamie Donaldson of Wales, Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay are in a tie for seventh at seven under.
Damien McGrane and Shane Lowry both sit at three-under while Peter Lawrie is a shot further back.
