Bookies back Grace for SA Open glory

Cape Town - South Africa's Branden Grace will add this week's R15 million SA Open title to his victory in last year's Nedbank Challenge at Sun City, if bookmakers are to be believed...

Victory at Glendower Golf Club would make for a memorable past few months for 29-year-old Grace who in 2017 rewrote golf's record books when firing the lowest ever round in a Major - a 62 at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Grace has been installed as the 27/4 favourite by leading SA bookies BET.co.za for the world's second oldest national Open.

The SA Open is steeped in history and dates back to 1903 and is only preceded by the Open Championship.

Grace's compatriots Charl Schwartzel (31/4), Dylan Frittelli (37/2) and Dean Burmester (27/1) are next best, while last year's surprise winner, England's Graeme Storm, is on offer at 73/1.

But it's Grace, the world's 30th-ranked player, they will all have to beat this week to lay claim to the nearly R2.5 million winner's cheque.

Play starts on Thursday morning.