Amazing: Grace shoots 62
SOUTHPORT, England — was playing in the daylight — good weather at last — and the dark.
The South African had no idea he was headed for history Saturday, that his eight-birdie round of 62 in the British Open was the lowest ever in a major championship.
As a result, Grace went from ho-hum to history. He had narrowly made the 5-over cut, finishing the first two days at Royal Birkdale at 4 over. Grace said that on No. 18 he had no idea he was doing something no one else had done.
“I honestly didn’t,” he said. “I was just so in the zone of playing. I knew I was playing really well, and making the turn at 5 under 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 the lowest ever.”
Thirty-one golfers have shot a 63 in majors, including
in the opening round at Royal Troon last year — his final putt for 62 rimmed out — and
who shot 63 on Sunday en route to winning last year’s tournament.
Grace had 10 pars and birdied Nos. 1,4, 5, 8, 9, 14, 16 and 17. According to statistics provided by Grace, he made putts of 16, 35, 25, 12, 34, and 28 feet.
“My main thing was trying not to bogey 18,” he said. “I wanted to finish strong . ... You feel bad making bogey on the last hole, especially after a good day.”
This is the seventh British Open for Grace, whose best finish was a tie for 20th in 2015.
had the most fantastic round of his life Saturday. And that was before he hit a single shot.
Pettersen, a golf pro at Royal Birkdale, got the plum assignment as a “marker” for South Africa’s
to even out the 79-player field. The Englishman essentially was a placeholder.
“It was just a bit surreal,” said Pettersen, 38, who has worked at the club for 15 years and was informed the night before that he would be playing.
“I’ve never played in front of that sort of crowd. It’s just been maybe a couple of people spectating.”
Pettersen, whose biggest paycheck as a professional is the equivalent of $390 in a club-pro competition, only had to mark Norris’ card and not his own. He estimates he shot 4- or 5-over par, a considerable distance behind Norris’ 65.
“The highlight was getting the first tee shot,” said Pettersen, whose pairing was the first of the day. bogeys in the first two rounds. He had five Saturday, including three in a row on the back side. He had to drain a long putt to save par on 18 for a 71.
Poulter came into the day tied for third at 3 under and ended it tied for 11th.
has been bothered by a sore shoulder since angrily swinging his club at a bush Friday, but he was feeling better as Saturday went on.
“It’s just a little bit of inflammation,” said Garcia, who shot a 68 and sits at even par. “Nothing seems to be torn or broken.”
The only amateur who made the cut is England’s who has a big group of friends and family cheering him on. They call themselves “Alfie’s Army” and have T-shirts that read #TeamAlfie.
One of those fans girlfriend, Were they to marry, would be Daisy Plant.
Said Plant: “We’ll draw a few chuckles if things go as planned.” is his she