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Grace seals another victory

by Tony Cuddihy , 22 January 2012

Branden Grace secured his second European Tour title inside a week by beating his boyhood idols Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in a play-off at the Volvo Golf Champions.


The 23-year-old Grace did not even have a place at the 35-man event before winning last weekend's Joburg Open, but became the first player since Fred Couples in 1985 to follow up his first career victory with a win the following week.

"I'm really ecstatic," said Grace after his two-putt birdie at the first extra hole.

"It's a dream come to win such a big event - pretty much the best tournament I've played in so far."

Grace now moves inside the top 100 in the world, having been 258th in the world a little over a week ago.

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal dropped back to sixth after sharing the lead early in the round, while Padraig Harrington fell away to tenth.

Grace could have won the tournament in regulation play if he had not missed an easy putt on the last. His round of 72 left him on 12-under for the tournament, with Els and Goosen, before the youngster sealed the win on the first play-off hole.

Els wasn't too downhearted.

He said: "A couple more putts here and there and that could have been something special.

"It's a very encouraging week, all four rounds under par, and I'm working on some good stuff."

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