DeChambeau makes waves in pro debut

2. Branden Grace looked up to fellow South African Ernie Els as a kid, and he considers himself lucky to call Els a friend.

He’s also fortunate that Els, a Harbour Town regular, recommended the RBC Heritage as an event that sets up well for Grace’s game. The Pete Dye-Jack Nicklaus design places a premium on ball-control and hitting shots both ways, similar to Grace’s home course in South Africa, Fancourt Links.

Grace and Els got together for coffee earlier in the week, and Els reaffirmed his belief that Grace should expect to play well at Harbour Town.

Sure enough, Grace shook off a second-round 74 with weekend rounds of 69-66 to overcome 54-hole leader Luke Donald and capture the RBC Heritage title. Grace moves to No. 19 in the FedExCup standings and further cements his reputation as a high-level global player, now adding a TOUR title to his seven European Tour victories.

Thanks very much, Ernie.

“We went to (Els’) house for coffee on Wednesday, and he told me this is one event I’m going to win a couple times in my career,” Grace said. “It was nice to hear from a legend like that. And obviously Ernie said (tonight), ‘I told you that you were going to win it a couple of times.’ So it’s nice to hear those things.”

3. Els may have established his status as a legend in the minds of fellow South Africans such as Grace, but he’s still diligent in working on his own game – despite setbacks like a six-putt on the first hole of last week’s Masters Tournament.

The 46-year-old has gained the respect of his TOUR peers for this relentless work ethic. Case in point: despite finishing his third round early in the afternoon Saturday, he was the last man seen in the practice area that evening.

Els’ practice paid off in Sunday's final round, as he shot 5-under 66 – tied with Grace for the second-lowest round of the day – to finish the week in a tie for 14th.

For all the doubters who might have written off Els after his Masters mishap, he continues to persevere.

“You know what, I think I’m just a freak like everybody else, just like everybody else trying to get better,” Els said. “I'm just like my father trying to get another five yards and like any other guy on TOUR thinking what to do, how to feel comfortable. I'm just doing the same thing. And I think that's the love we have for the game.

“We love to get tortured and we love to play good golf. And on a day (like Sunday) you feel like, ‘Man, I could play this game again.’”

4. Luke Donald appeared in good spirits as he packed his car Sunday afternoon at Harbour Town, his wife and young daughters by his side.

Granted, he was a bit disappointed by the way things transpired during the final round, as he recorded a remarkable sixth top-3 finish in Hilton Head without a victory. After assuming the 54-hole lead, he shot a final-round 71 to fall into a tie for second place, two short of Grace.

Nonetheless, things are looking up for the former World No. 1. It’s his first top-25 of the season in 10 starts, and he shot four rounds of par or better for the first time in 2016.

He can expect to have more chances for victory at Harbour Town. One of these years, perhaps, it will be his time.

“This is a great step in the right direction,” Donald said. “I’m really positive about my game going forward, positive about the way I handled it today. To be in contention, have a chance, that’s what you want to do.”

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