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dpa
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South Africa's Branden Grace produced a stunning round of 62 - the lowest score ever recorded at any of golf's four majors - as he stormed~into contention in the third round at the Open at Royal Birkdale on Saturday.
Grace began the day miles off the pace at 4-over-par, ten shots behind leader Jordan Spieth. But the 29-year-old reached the turn in 29 shots and birdied three of the final five holes to go 4-under-par for the tournament, five shots behind Spieth, who had moved to 9-under overall after 12~holes.
"I honestly had no idea that was something historic,"Grace said.~"I knew I was playing well and I was just in the zone. I didn't know 62 was the lowest ever but now it makes it even more special. If my caddie knew, he never said anything. Good on him."
With the weather having improved after the high winds and heavy rain of Friday, the players enjoyed perfect conditions for scoring and Grace took full advantage with a superb round.
Birdies at the first, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth holes took him out in 29 and when he~rolled in another birdie at the par-three 14th hole, he was just four shots off the pace.
Thirty-one players have shot 63 in the history of the four majors - the Open, US Open, US Masters~and US PGA Championship.
Birdies at 16 and 17 put Grace~8-under-par for the day and a nerveless two-putt on the last sealed a par for a record-breaking 62.
"To do it here at the Open is awesome and I'll remember it forever,"Grace~said.
"I just need to concentrate on doing something similar tomorrow to get as far in this championship as possible."
Spieth, though, maintained his two-shot overnight lead by picking up three birdies on the front nine to be 9-under-par, two better than playing partner Matt Kuchar, with US Open champion Brooks Koepka two shots further back through 11 holes.
World number two Hideki Matsuyama of Japan was on 4-under-par with one hole to play, one better than world number one Dustin Johnson, who had a chance to match or better Grace's 62 when he reached the 16th hole on 6-under for his round.
But pars at 16 and 17 cost him the chance and he missed a birdie putt for a 63, eventually settling for a 64 that moved him up to 3-under-par, level with defending champion Henrik Stenson, who shot 65.
"It was great, reminiscent of last year's Open for me,"Stenson told BBC Radio 5 Live.~"I played my best round of the week and I am grateful for the support.
"I am still there, it is a long way to go for the later groups. If they keep getting birdies they will be too far ahead."
Former champion Rory McIlroy was 4-under early on but double-bogeyed the 10th and was 1-under through 13 holes.
Englishman Ian Poulter also dropped a shot from his overnight score and was 2-under having played 12.
