Grace gears up for busy stretch as he targets return to LIV Golf League

BANGKOK, Thailand - South African Branden Grace is putting all his effort into The International Series in a bid to win his way back onto the LIV Golf League. Going by his form at International Series Thailand this week, he is trending in the right direction.

Grace star fired a 5-under 65 in the third round to move to 11 under and stay in contention for the sixth of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour.

It could have been even better, but the heat in Thailand took a toll. Still, after a season in which Grace was unable to escape the Drop Zone on the LIV Golf League, the performance was a real lift. And it couldn't have come at a better time, considering The International Series Rankings and the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event both offer him a viable pathway back.

With four tournaments left in the series, and increased points for the US$2.5million International Series Qatar and US$5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, Grace could still theoretically challenge for a top spot on the rankings, currently occupied by American John Catlin, a LIV Golf reserve player.

After finishing in the Drop Zone, Grace is also guaranteed a spot at the LIV Golf Promotions event in Saudi Arabia in December, which offers the champion another place on the LIV Golf League roster.

“My thing is, I am here, I am playing Qatar, playing Saudi, and then I am going to the promotions event," Grace said. "I have to do what I have to do. Depending on what happens, I make my decision from there. I put myself in this position, so there is nothing I can really do about it other than practice and get ready for these events.

“I need to go win, win, win, and there you go. It takes care of things. But I just have to do what I have to do.”

Grace has an advantage going into the closing stretch. A champion on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Sunshine Tour and LIV Golf League, he has winning experience in Qatar, having twice won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, and he is relishing the prospect of a return to Doha for the penultimate event of the season.

"So Qatar, I have won twice there, my last two times I have been there, so I am going for a little secret hat trick around there," Grace said. "And with Saudi, I have not been to the new course, but I have heard good things about it. I have some good things to look out for.”

Grace admits he “hasn’t even looked" at his prospects for next season if he doesn’t manage to navigate his way back onto the LIV Golf League roster, but either way he will definitely line up in more events on The International Series and Asian Tour.

"I am going to go to where I feel that I have the best chances of competing and winning golf tournaments," Grace said. "This is what it is all about - giving the guys opportunity. Like I have said before, this is a great stepping stone. It is great.”

Grace has been getting plenty of encouragement from Stinger GC teammates Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester.

“You know, those guys are still backing me, which is good," Grace said. "And with three good mates out there, it would be nice to be back on that team.”

For more information on The International Series, please visit www.internationalseries.com

(Photo courtesy of Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)