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Grace pleased with second-best at 'nuts' Phoenix Open

Cape Town - South Africa's Branden Grace finished as runner-up for the first time in a PGA Tour event at the Phoenix Open this past weekend.

READ: Fowler edges Grace to win wild Phoenix Open

Grace posted a final round of 2-under 69 to finish on 15-under for the tournament - two shots adrift of winner Rickie Fowler.

The South African entered the final round trailing Fowler by seven strokes and held the lead late in the final round before a bogey on No 17 derailed his title hopes.

Making his debut at TPC Scottsdale, the South African experienced the electric 16th and was booed on Sunday after tapping in for par.

"I think it's the first time in my life where I was booed after making par on 16," Grace told Golf Channel.

"This place was nuts. It's everything and more than what I expected and what a fun week it was.

"I can't take anything for granted and I had to dig deep today and I did that. It's just unfortunately one bad shot."

Grace, who has only one PGA Tour win after his 2016 RBC Heritage title, credited the Presidents Cup as a reason for being able to handle his nerves at the 16th.

"I think obviously being part of three Presidents Cups helps," he told the PGA Tour website.

"Because there is nothing like the 16th. There's no event that gets close. Even the Majors - obviously, there's a big hype, but people are a little bit more on the safe side, if I can call it that, with how much noise they make and how crazy they get."

Grace's solo second saw him pocket a cool $766 800 (R10.2 million) for his efforts and move to No 31 in the FedEx Cup standings.

This result also saw the 30-year-old move up 13 spots to sit 40th in the world golf rankings.

Grace will be teeing off at the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week.

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