RORY’S STILL OPEN FOR THE BEST
Branden’s brilliant 62 is greatest ever round in a Major championship
BRANDEN GRACE shot the lowest ever score in a Major championship with his stunning 62 yesterday – then claimed he had no idea he was making history until his final putt dropped.
The South African nailed eight birdies, after heavy overnight rain was followed by a gorgeous day at Royal Birkdale.
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods are among the 29 players who have hit a round of 63 in the previous 442 Majors.
But world No.35 Grace went one lower on the par-70 Lancashire course after parring the final hole. And only then did his caddie Zack Rasego tell him he had set a new record.
“I didn’t know what was going on at 18. I promise you,” he said. “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 fiveunder was pretty special.
“And I thought if I could make a couple more on the back nine, then it’s going to be a great score.
“I had no idea that 62 was obviously the lowest ever. Sometimes it helps not knowing. Obviously, now it makes it even more special than what it was. “My whole thing on the 18th was just trying not to make bogey. I hit a great wedge in there, just caught a little bit of a jumper and made it tough for myself. “But I knocked in the two-footer or three-footer. And Zack came up and said ‘You’re in the history books’. “And I was like ‘What are you talking about?’ So obviously now it makes the day even sweeter.
“It’s special, it really is. It’s something I really enjoyed and something I’ll remember forever, definitely.”
Jodie Mudd shot the previous lowest score of 63 at Royal Birkdale at the 1991 Open. During this year’s second round played in horrible conditions, only eight players broke par.
“The weather is a lot better,” Grace laughed. “The greens are softer, gettable. And they have moved up a couple of tees so it’s giving guys an opportunity to be aggressive.”
Playing partner Jason Dufner, who shot a 63 at the 2013 US PGA, said: “It was kinda neat to be part of history. It was a great experience for him. A semi-cool experience for me. I was rooting for him on the final hole.”