Branden Grace has a tendency to deliver the impossible every now and then, and with the South African in fine form, this could just be his week when he tees it up at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Thursday.

Grace, the country’s highest-ranked player at number 33, shot a nine-under-par round of 62 during the final round of the US PGA Tour’s AT & T Byron Nelson last Sunday to finish tied for third.

It was just another feather in the cap for the South African who also celebrated his 30th birthday on the final day.

He hasn’t finished outside the top-30 since the Masters last month and heads into this week as one of the big three to watch alongside England’s Ross Fisher and Paul Dunne.

Grace, who finished runner-up at the SA Open in January, enjoyed a spectacular back nine which included an eagle and three birdies on the trot.

That was some birthday present, it was fun.

He also quite fancies the West Course layout at Wentworth where he has notched up three top-15 finishes in five outings. Last year, Grace shared ninth spot and boasts an overall score of 21-under on Surrey’s most famous golf course.

Grace also hit 52 greens in regulation last year, a stat only bettered by England’s Graeme Storm who finished a shot ahead of the South African.

Regarded as one of the best ball-strikers on tour, as well as a solid putter, Grace will be the one to watch as the world’s best players wind up their preparations for the year’s second Major – the US Open which starts at Shinnecock Hills on 14 June.

Grace, who became a dad for the time when his wife gave birth to a baby boy on 25 April, became the first golfer to score a 62 during last year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Prior to that, he scored a 12-under-par 60 on his way to winning the 2012 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Happy First Mother’s Day to my beautiful wife,we love you so much! You are AMAZING ❤️ #MotherDay #love pic.twitter.com/qEOEeNpwTq

— Branden Grace (@BrandenGrace) May 13, 2018

Happy Birthday @BrandenGrace!? Do you remember this moment? #62 pic.twitter.com/atX06KfHI8

— The Open (@TheOpen) May 20, 2018

Things are looking really good for Grace who is one of 14 local golfers playing in the BMW PGA Championship which is the first Rolex Series event of eight on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

South Africans competing this week:

Dylan Frittelli

Ernie Els

Trevor Immelman

George Coetzee

Haydn Porteous

Dean Burmester

Darren Fichardt

Brandon Stone

Richard Sterne

Thomas Aiken

Zander Lombard

Erik van Rooyen

Jacques Kruyswijk