South African golf star Branden Grace is pouring his efforts into a critical series of tournaments, all with the goal of reclaiming his spot in the LIV Golf League.
Grace’s recent performance at the International Series Thailand is encouraging, as his third-round score of 65 propelled him to 11 under, keeping him well in the mix for one of the Asian Tour’s premier events.
Though he briefly struggled in the heat, his play has provided a much-needed boost following a season that saw him land in the dreaded LIV Golf “Drop Zone.”
With four more tournaments in the International Series and increased points for high-stakes events like the $2.5 million International Series Qatar and the $5 million PIF Saudi International, Grace still has a shot at top ranking.
Currently, the leaderboard is dominated by American John Catlin, but Grace has his sights on pulling ahead.
Not only does Grace have a spot in the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event in Saudi Arabia, where the victor secures a league roster place, but his competitive experience offers him an edge as he aims to climb back into LIV Golf.
Reflecting on his path, Grace commented, “My thing is, I am here, I am playing Qatar, playing Saudi, and then I am going to the promotions event. I have to do what I have to do.
Depending on what happens, I make my decision from there. I put myself in this position, so there is nothing I can really do about it other than practice and get ready for these events.”
As he sees it, the only route to secure his position is through repeated victories—a challenge he’s more than ready to tackle.
One distinct advantage for Grace is his winning history in Qatar, where he’s twice claimed the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters title.
As he heads back to familiar grounds, he looks forward to what he calls a “secret hat trick.”
On the new Saudi course, Grace shared, “So Qatar, I have won twice there, my last two times I have been there, so I am going for a little secret hat trick around there.
And with Saudi, I have not been to the new course, but I have heard good things about it. I have some good things to look out for.”
While he’s focused on making his way back to LIV Golf, Grace hasn’t set expectations for next season if he doesn’t make the cut.
His plan, however, is straightforward: go where he can compete and win. Grace, who made a strong start in his first two LIV seasons, surprised many by finding himself in the Drop Zone.
But he’s far from defeated, saying, “I am going to go to where I feel that I have the best chances of competing and winning golf tournaments.
This is what it is all about – giving the guys opportunity. Like I have said before, this is a great stepping stone. It is great.”
Meanwhile, Grace has had unwavering support from his Stinger GC teammates—fellow South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, and Dean Burmester.
“You know, those guys are still backing me, which is good. And with three good mates out there, it would be nice to be back on that team,” Grace expressed, acknowledging the encouragement from his friends as he fights his way back to the LIV Golf League.
For further details on The International Series, visit www.internationalseries.com.
