Grace scoops Tour award
South African rewarded for explosive start to the season
Last Updated: February 8, 2012 12:38pm
Branden Grace: Back-to-back victories on home soil in South Africa last month
South Africa's Branden Grace has won the European Tour's Golfer of the Month award for January after his back-to-back victories in his homeland last month.
Having come through Qualifying School to secure his card, the 23-year-old enjoyed a memorable start to his season as he bagged his maiden European Tour title on home soil with a one-shot victory at the Joburg Open.
That triumph earned him a place in the field at the exclusive Volvo Golf Champions event one week later, held over The Links course at Fancourt, near his home in George.
The youngster would go on to complete a superb double as he held his nerve to edge out major champions Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in a play-off, producing a nerveless birdie at the first extra hole.
The two consecutive triumphs saw Grace climb over 150 places in the world rankings, establishing himself inside the top 100 at 93.
The South African's efforts saw him get the nod over Robert Rock - who held off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship - and compatriot Louis Oosthuizen who emerged victorious at the season's opening event, the Africa Open.
