Branden Grace completes eagle-eagle to win victory in Puerto Rico Open | Golf News

Just five weeks after the death of his father, Branden Grace claimed an impressive victory at the Puerto Rico Open after finishing off an eagle, a birdie to fly out of Jhonattan Vegas.

Branden Grace won his first PGA Tour title in nearly five years

Branden Grace won a victory at the Puerto Rico Open after a spectacular bird-eagle finish denied Jhonattan Vegas in the Rio Grande.

Vegas looked good for a playoff at worst when it made its eighth birdie of the final round at the end to give a card to 65 and lead the clubhouse to 18 under, but Grace launched a giant driver down the 17th par-four and holed out of a green bunker for an intriguing pair of eagles.

And Grace didn’t have slip-ups at the long last hole, and retreated in a confident four-legged putt for the birdie who won his first win from his home South African Open last January.

Grace, his only previous PGA Tour award at RBC Heritage nearly five years ago, held on to an unbeaten card in the 66 he was closing, his victory getting a two-year release more than 300 FedExCup points.

The success represented a “light at the end of the tunnel” for the 32-year-old, who missed the cut in 12 events after winning on home ground last year and posting just two more top-10 finishes, while and also mourns the death of his father five weeks ago.

“What a special week,” he said. “A year or two has been very difficult, and a month or two difficult, and it’s good to have all the support back home with my wife and son and my family and everyone back home.After all we have been through, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Grace cheered 17 and fished the last one to win

“I wasn’t bothered at all, I waited patiently, played the right shots at the right time and was aggressive when I needed it. And obviously it was a peaceful ending, shoot the bunker bullet at 17, make the eagle, and then by swiping up and down at 18 to win with one. “

Vegas had set up an early challenge when it put in four of the first six holes as overnight co-directors Grayson Murray and Rafael Campos struggled to keep up.

Vegas picked up three more hits in four holes around the leg, but his 14th single bogey of the day was going to be crucial when Grace added to the title.

Murray needed an eagle at the end to push extra holes against Grace, but his driver found his way dangerous and would end up with a bogey six to finish tied for third place with Campos as the two burning disappointment 70s.