Life and golf just keep getting better for Branden Grace.

The South African emerged from a character-building start to his professional career with a breakthrough win at the Joburg Open.

Now Branden really has the world in his hands as the success at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club opened doors all over the globe.

One swung open this week with an invite to the Volvo Champions event at Fancourt which is something of a home event for Branden who hails from nearby George on the Garden Route.

Branden, who only earned his playing privileges for this season at the Q-School late last year, withstood last-round pressure and a surge from 63-shooting Jamie Elson to secure a one-shot win and a host of new opportunities.

I was impressed not only with Branden’s golf and personality when he joined ISM, but also his desire to learn and improve. It has been a tough introduction to the professional ranks at times, but all his hard work and dedication has now paid off. He is yet another fine example of the prolific South African production line which just keeps turning out excellent players.

George Coetzee took up his now customary place in the top 20 while Richard Finch should not dwell too long on a last-round fall which saw him drop from contention to 24th. He should think more of the earlier rounds of 66, 66 and 69 which got him up there in the first place and use them as a foundation for his next outing.