Grace misses out on hat-trick

Dunhill Links champion Branden Grace has pulled out of this week's Portugal Masters after remembering what happened to him the last time he tried for three wins in a row.

The 24-year-old missed the halfway cut in Abu Dhabi in January following back-to-back victories.

"I'm pretty knackered," said Grace, whose triumph at St Andrews yesterday came a week after capturing the Vodacom Origins of Golf title in his native South Africa. "I think it might not be a bad idea skipping the next one."

The Pretoria player is up to third on the European Tour money list a year after having to go to the qualifying school for a fifth time.

He will continue his pursuit of top two Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose in China later this month.