JOHANNESBURG - South African Branden Grace created history as he shot the lowest score ever in Major championships with a stunning eight-under 62 in the third round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, in Southport, England, on Saturday.
The seven-time European Tour winner who has already come close to winning a Major in the last three years, produced a perfect round of golf on the links layout in good scoring conditions.
The 29-year-old started with a birdie on the first hole before four more birdies to turn in 29 on the par 34 outward loop.
The 35th-ranked player in the world picked up three more birdies on 14, 16 and the par-five 17th.
An up-and-down for par at the final hole sealed Grace’s name in Major history for a back nine three-under 33, eclipsing the 63 recorded on 31 different occasions in golf’s big four events.
History made at Royal Birkdale. Incredible round from @BrandenGrace. 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/3FY74xkODD
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 22, 2017
By the time Grace had finished his round, he had soared up 43 spots on the leaderboard to four-under overall for second place, two shots adrift of American leader Jordan Spieth.
"I was so in the zone. I was just trying to finish the round without a bogey. Sometimes it helps not knowing these things,” said Grace after his round.