By Brian Wacker
Branden Grace arrived at the 17th tee of Grande Reserve Country Club in Puerto Rico on Sunday trailing clubhouse leader Jhonattan Vegas by a stroke and not sure what to do on the reachable par 4. His father, Peter, who gave him his first golf club when he was a young boy growing up in South Africa, instilled in him that he shouldn’t be the type of player to lay up. So he didn’t.

Then he delivered the shot of the week at the Puerto Rico Open.

MORE: The future of the PGA Tour is in good hands with Collin Morikawa

After driving into a greenside bunker, Grace deftly pitched just onto the putting surface, then watched as his ball rolled into the hole for an eagle and a one-shot lead. After he retrieved his ball from the cup, the 32-year-old South African looked to the sky and his eyes began to well up.

Five weeks ago, Peter Grace passed away after a month-long battle with COVID-19.

“I looked up and I said, Just give me the strength for one more hole, just a couple more good swings,” he said. “And it was all him.”

CLUTCH! ?@BrandenGrace holes out for eagle on 17 to take the lead @PuertoRicoOpen.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/b6wPYSBrbJ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 28, 2021

One hole later, Grace got up and down from the sand for birdie on the par-5 18th to cap a round of 66 to finish at 19-under 269, one stroke better than Vegas. The victory was Grace’s second on the PGA Tour, the other coming in 2016 at the RBC Heritage.

“It’s been a very tough couple of years, and a tough couple of months,” Grace said. “It’s just nice to—obviously with all the support back home with my wife and my son and my family and everybody back home, and all that we have been through, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel.”

It’s been a long road to get there.

Five years ago, Grace was a top-10 player in the world, winner of seven titles on the European Tour and another on the PGA Tour. He also performed impressively in a fistful of major championships, stringing together five top-10s in 10 majors between 2015 and 2017. Among them were the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, where he held a share of the lead through 54 holes and was tied for the lead on the 16th hole until he blocked his drive out of bounds. At the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where he became the first player to shoot 62 in a major on his way to a tie for sixth. He also played in three Presidents Cups and went 5-0 for the week in the 2015 matches in South Korea.

Branden Grace celebrates his eagle from the bunker on the 17th hole during the final round of the Puerto Rico Open. Andy Lyons

Soon, though, his career started going the other direction.

From 2019 through the end of 2020, Grace missed the cut in 23 of his 52 worldwide starts. Other priorities took over and he was also adjusting to life as a new dad after his wife, Nieke, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Roger, in April 2018.

“Not that you lose interest, things just get tough,” Grace said. “You get down on yourself. And we have had some big life changes the last couple of years, and maybe it just takes a while to get used to that and for it to sink in and really gather yourself around it.”

Then last August, Grace was forced to withdraw halfway through the Barracuda Championship after testing positive for coronavirus. He was tied for second at the time and also missed the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park the following week as a result of the required 10-day quarantine.

Grace returned to playing the week after the PGA, but things took a worse turn when his father Peter contracted coronavirus late last year.

More than a third of all cases in Africa have been in South Africa and at the time the country had yet to begin a vaccination program. One of the mutations of the virus also originated in the country and there have been almost 50,000 deaths there since the start of the pandemic. On Jan. 21, Grace shared the news on Twitter that his father had passed away, saying, in part, “Words cannot describe the loss and heartache we feel. He was a rock in my life and career and I am going to miss him dearly.”

Sunday, his late father couldn’t escape his thoughts again.

“My wife also told me this morning, he’s with me every shot of the way,” Grace said. “Every step of the way and every swing of the way, he is going to be looking at me.”

And what a show it was.

With a bunched leader board that saw a handful of players jockeying near the top on the back nine on Sunday, including hometown favorite Rafael Campos and three-time tour winner Vegas, Grace delivered a memorable performance, hitting 13 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens on a windswept afternoon.

The victory gets Grace into next month’s Players, the PGA Championship in May and secures his card for the next two years. It’s also one his late father would have enjoyed.

“He gave me my first golf club,” Grace said. “He has been there through thick and thin. He’s the one that pushed me to get a dream and to be a part of the dream and actually for me to give me the chance to make something of my dream.”

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By Joel Beall
Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the Sony Open after testing positive for COVID-19.

Vegas, 36, announced the news on Twitter Tuesday evening.

“Not exactly how I had planned to start this season in the PGA Tour,” Vegas wrote. “Unfortunately I just tested positive for COVID-19 and will be missing the next two tournaments. I hope I can come back stronger from this.”

Vegas is a three-time tour winner and member of the 2017 Presidents Cup team but missed the FedEx Cup Playoffs last year and is coming off a rough fall, failing to make the weekend in three of seven starts with just one top-25 finish. Because of the positive test, Vegas must now go into self-quarantine, adhering to CDC guidelines.

It is the second positive COVID-19 test for the PGA Tour in 2021, with Jim Herman dropping out of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Webb Simpson and Xander Schauffele tested positive during the 2020 holiday season but were able to produce negative results in order to play in Maui last week.

Seamus Power will replace Vegas in the Sony Open field.

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Part of that aura is the fact that the spectators watching the island green are often loudest when the worst of shots happen. See Tiger Woods and his two water balls on Friday.

But on Sunday afternoon, those gathered around the 136-yard par 3 were treated to some of the most amazing theatrics you could wish for—and these ones were all for the good.

It began with this improbable putt by Eddie Pepperell, the Englishman in the midst of a crazy back-nine run en route to a 66 and a share of the clubhouse lead (at the time) at 14 under. Pepperell had 49 feet, 7 inches for his fifth back-nine birdie in seven holes. And well … take a look.

INCREDIBLE!

5️⃣0️⃣ feet from @PepperellEddie at the iconic 17th!

He's tied for the lead @THEPLAYERSChamp.

What a moment.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/uAmTF6eU7w

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2019

Could you ever top that putt? Well, apparently you could. As Jhonattan Vegas would demonstrate only one group later.

The longest putt on 17 … EVER.

7️⃣0️⃣ FEET!!!!!!!@JhonattanVegas is tied for 2nd @THEPLAYERSChamp.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/dnNTMQrzFg

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2019

The folks on the NBC broadcast said it was 72 feet. ShotLink is showing it as 69 feet, 7 inches. Either way, it’s the longest putt ever holed in the Players Championship on the 17th at Sawgrass since they became officially measuring putts in the ShotLink era. The previous mark: Bernhard Langer has holed a 59-foot, 9-inch putt back in 2008.

Here’s how it looked to ShotLink:

That was the sixth birdie of the day for Vegas as well, who finished with a 66 to get to 14 under as well. Few will ever forget the “Better than most” putt from Tiger Woods in 2001. And Pepperell and Vegas won’t be the winners here this year at Sawgrass. But these two putts deserve their own special place in the lore of the 17th.

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By Joel Beall
An expired visa almost prevented Jhonattan Vegas from playing in this year’s Open Championship, as Vegas—with a borrowed set of clubs—didn’t arrive to Carnoustie until 45 minutes before his tee time. Unfortunately for the three-time tour winner, another travel predicament has struck.

Vegas announced on Tuesday that he has withdrawn from the CIMB Classic, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, due to a passport issue. “Unfortunately my country is having some horrible issues and renewing your passport is one of them,” Vegas wrote on Twitter. “Thanks everyone (at the) CIMB Classic for trying to make this happen.”

Súper disappointed not going to @CIMBClassic this week in Malaysia due to my passport expiring in a 2 months. Unfortunately my country is having some horrible issues and renewing your passport is one of them. Thanks everyone @CIMBClassic for trying to make this happen.

— Jhonattan Vegas (@JhonattanVegas) October 8, 2018

Vegas’ homeland, Venezuela, is in the midst of civil unrest and economic collapse. On Monday the country’s congress reported Venezuelan consumer prices rose 488,865 percent in the 12 months ending in September.

Vegas’ participation in November’s World Cup of Golf could also be in doubt, as the event will be played in Australia.

Sam Ryder will take Vegas’ spot in the CIMB Classic field.

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By John Strege
Phil Mickelson’s streak of playing on every U.S. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup since 1994 will continue, courtesy of U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker, who made him one of his two picks overnight.

Stricker also chose another native San Diegan, Mickelson’s friend Charley Hoffman, to round out his 12-man team. Hoffman, 40, will be playing in his first Presidents Cup.

The International team Captain Nick Price added Emiliano Grillo of Argentina and Anirban Lahiri of India.

“We all know what Phil brings to the table,» Stricker said. «He’s been on 20 plus teams. He’s an important part of all these teams. He, too, is starting to play better. He guarantees me he’s on the right track.

The Presidents Cup begins on Thursday, Sept. 28, at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., just across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

Mickelson, 47, seemed to have been a lock, notwithstanding his having finished 15th on the points list. His experience, along with the fact he’s beloved in the New York area, made him an easy choice. Moreover, he tied for sixth in the Dell Technologies Championship on Monday.

“It really has been special the way the people [in the New York area] have treated me and my family,” Mickelson said.

“They’re incredible sports fans. It’s a great place for the USA to play and complete. I don’t know what sparked it, but I’m certainly very appreciative”

This will be Mickelson’s 12th Presidents Cup. He also has played on the last 11 U.S. Ryder Cup teams.

“My excitement to be on this team is as great as it’s been for any team I’ve been on,” Mickelson said. “It means a lot to me. What means a lot to me this year is that they wanted me there even though I didn’t get the spot on my own. I really love being around these guys. I respect how great they are. This is a special team and to be a part of it is very meaningful to me.”

Hoffman, meanwhile, finished 11th on the points list, edged out by Kevin Chappell in the final round of the Dell on Monday.

“[Kevin] Chappell and I were sort of going back and forth that last day in Boston,” Hoffman said.

“I’m glad it’s finally over and I finally made an American team and I can’t wait. It’s a very special moment. Phil and I have played a lot of golf in San Diego and he talks a lot about it. It’s sort of one of the things that drove me to get on this team was sort of the ribbing he gave me put on the golf course out in San Diego and knowing how special it would be to be a part of this Presidents Cup.”

The International team has not won a Presidents Cup since 1998 and has lost six in a row after a tie in 2003.

“We can’t be complacent,» Mickelson said. «If we play our best and are prepared I believe we’ll come out on top. But they are an incredibly talented team and if we take some things for granted we’ll get beat.”

The rest of the U.S. team: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Daniel Berger, Brooks Koepka, Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar.

The rest of the International team: Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim, Jhonattan Vegas and Adam Hadwin.

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By Christopher Powers
It’s rare when a leader board shapes up exactly how a golf fan wants it to, but that’s exactly what’s happened through 36 holes at The Northern Trust, the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler lead the way at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, N.Y., tied at six-under 134 along with Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas.

Spieth, 24, sat five strokes off the lead entering the second round and found himself in the same position after nine holes on Friday. That’s when he went into full Spieth-mode, making five straight birdies to get to six under for the tournament. After dropping his second shot of the day at the par-3 15th, he added a sixth birdie on his back nine, then finished with two straight pars to shoot a five-under 65. It’s the eighth time the three-time major champ has had a share of the 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour, and he’s converted six of them into victories.

Johnson was on pace to match his opening-round 65, cruising along on Friday at three under through 12 holes and eight under for the tournament. Consecutive bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes (his 13th and 14th) derailed him a bit, but he was still able to card a one-under 69 and grab a share of the lead.

Playing alongside Johnson was Fowler, who shot a four-under 66 with five birdies and one bogey. He’s been arguably the most consistent player on tour, with a victory at the Honda Classic, three top-threes and nine top-10s. In his last seven events, he’s finished T-5 or better four times.

Vegas, 32, posted a bogey-free five-under 65 that now has him projected at fourth in the FedEx Cup standings. A strong weekend would put him in excellent position to make it to the Tour Championship, which seemed like a pipe dream after the Venezuelan missed nine of 10 cuts between the Masters and the Open Championship. A week after Royal Birkdale, he defended his title at the RBC Canadian Open for his third PGA Tour victory.

The pack chasing the leaders boasts strong names as well, with Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson each sitting one back at five-under 135. Kuchar’s six-under 64 was the round of the day, while Watson’s two-under 68 gives him a second straight sub-70 round. Both have yet to win this season.

Jon Rahm, Justin Rose and Russell Henley are two back at four-under 136.

Eight players are at three-under 137, including PGA champion Justin Thomas, defending Northern Trust champ Patrick Reed, Paul Casey and Daniel Berger.

Phil Mickleson, Brooks Koepka and Jason Day will all make the cut at even par 140, as will Rory McIlroy, who sits at one-over 141.

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Venezuela—where Vegas was born, learned the game using a stick and a rock and still has many family members and friends—has been engulfed in deadly violence with protests over the election of a controversial new constitutional assembly led by the country’s President, Nicolas Maduro, who the opposition has said would turn the nation into a dictatorship.

“It’s always on my mind,” said Vegas, who was searching for an update on the latest news back home. “It hurts a lot, seeing the country the way it is, seeing a government that treats people that way when they don’t deserve it, just to remain in power, and all the suffering that even my family and friends that are having right now. It’s just not fair.”

Never mind that Vegas had to try to win a golf tournament with such heavy thoughts on his mind. He did anyway, closing with a seven-under 65 to finish regulation tied with Charley Hoffman before making a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at Glen Abbey outside of Toronto to win the RBC Canadian Open for a second straight year.

Never mind, too, that Vegas had missed the cut in each of his last five starts and seven of his last nine coming into the week.

“I’ve had a horrible summer to put it the best way,” Vegas said. “But it’s golf, and you have to keep a positive mentality and always think that you’re going to play your best.”

He certainly did that on Sunday.

Vegas birdied four of his last five holes on the front nine to make the turn in 30, punctuated by a 40-foot bomb on the par-4 ninth to tie for the lead.

He added three more birdies and made just one bogey on the back, but after failing to birdie the par-5 18th he had to wait out his fate with Hoffman a stroke back and playing behind him.

Hoffman reached the finishing hole in two but narrowly missed his eagle putt before tapping in for birdie to cap a 68 and finish regulation at 21-under 267 with Vegas.

Playing the same hole a few minutes later, Vegas’ approach from the left fairway bunker hit the grass just above the lip but the shot had enough oomph to clear the water and go through the green.

“When I heard the clip, because obviously I didn’t see it, I knew that it was probably going to go in the water, because I didn’t know exactly how hard it hit [the lip],” Vegas said. “But then when I saw the ball in the air, it was still going really hard and forward.”

Vegas chipped to within a foot and when Hoffman’s birdie attempt from the greenside bunker rolled past the hole the 32-year-old Venezuelan had his third career victory.

“It’s been a special day,” Vegas said. “I just came out with an aggressive mentality, just feeling really good about my game. When I started making a few birdies, especially the putt for birdie on 7, I started feeling the same chills that I felt last year when I won, and I just knew that something good could happen if I kept that going.”

For Hoffman, meanwhile, it was another case of close but not enough.

For the third time in his last five starts the 40-year-old who lives in Las Vegas had a chance to win but didn’t.

“I gave myself a chance,” Hoffman said. “Except I putted horribly today and left everything short. Jhonny played great today. All credit to him. [I] didn’t make that many putts of any significance at all on the back nine unfortunately. … Just didn’t get the putts to the hole, which is probably going to be what I’m probably going to lose a little sleep over.”

Despite finishing a stroke out of the playoff, Ian Poulter had plenty to be pleased about. He shot 64, the best round of the day, and has turned his season around after facing the possibility of being without a PGA Tour card at the end of the year.

“I played good golf today,” he said. “The confidence tin was empty a few months ago … Life’s all good.”

It is for Vegas, too, after a rough two months. Still, his mind was elsewhere Sunday night as he held the trophy.

“It makes me a little bit angry obviously,” he said of the unrest in Venezuela. “But it’s something that obviously I use as motivation to raise a voice against the government that we’re having right now. Obviously by me winning and the exposure of me getting here can inspire other people in my country to revolt against the government. Obviously we need a change, and you know, hopefully by making this a little more public, we can get something positive going for the country.”

The post Jhonattan Vegas balances tour life with real-world worries back home in Venezuela appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Speaking with the media at this week’s RBC Canadian Open, Johnson admitted he’s not fully healthy from the staircase incident.

“I’m still feeling the effects of it,” Johnson said on Wednesday. “No pain or anything like that. But it’s still a little tight. I’m having to get worked on a good bit just to try to loosen up those muscles and those tendons where it got injured.”

While Johnson finished runner-up at the Wells Fargo Championship in his return from injury, he’s struggled as of late, missing the weekend at the Memorial and U.S. Open. And though he showed signs of life at Royal Birkdale, he ultimately finished outside the top 50. It’s his worst three-week stretch on tour since the winter of 2013.

Johnson also conceded that he’s not just battling physical elements.

“Mentally, little lack of confidence. Just because I was playing so well leading into that,” Johnson said. “Probably for 10-to-12 months leading into the Masters, a year into the Masters, I was playing really good golf.”

But, though his final-round 77 was the worst Sunday score at the Open Championship, Johnson said he’s happy with his progress. More importantly, this week’s venue, Glen Abbey, is a place where the 33-year-old has enjoyed success in the past, with runner-ups in his last two appearances.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle, but I’ve put a lot of work to get back to where I was,” Johnson said. “And I’m starting to see signs of it. It’s all good, it’s all positive and it’s all moving forward.”

Johnson tees off on Thursday at 1:25 PM with Jhonattan Vegas and Jim Furyk.

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