Dunhill Links: Branden Grace wins fifth Tour title of year

Branden Grace

South Africa's Branden Grace won the Dunhill Links Championship by two shots from Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen with a record-equalling 22-under-par total.

Grace, 24, led from the first round to capture his fifth title of the year.

"I've really dreamt of this moment my whole life. It was a tough day, but the putter started working," said Grace.

Olesen closed in on Grace's overnight four-shot advantage and levelled on the 11th but could not prevent the Pretoria golfer securing back-to-back wins.

Grace birdied holes 12, 13 and 14 to pull clear once again and when Olesen bogeyed the 15th the South African's lead was back up to four.

A birdie on the 16th from the Dane kept the tournament alive, but Olesen missed an eagle attempt on the final hole and Grace duly claimed the £491,000 prize.

Grace has risen from outside the world's top 300 to inside the top 40 and has a chance of overtaking world number one Rory McIlroy for the European money list title next month.

"It's definitely in my sights," said Grace, up from 12th to third on the European list having won the Joburg Open, Volvo Champions, China Open and last Sunday's Origins of Golf title.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher finished in a seven-way tie for fifth after shooting a quadruple-bogy eight at the 16th.

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