LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: LONDON

June 10, 2022

Branden Grace

Centurion Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Branden Grace from Team Stingers who is currently in the lead.

Q. Are you keeping an eye on the team part of it?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, definitely. Firstly, it would be nice to win the firstly, and then it would be nice to win the first team event as well.

There wasn't that many scoreboards out will with the team results on there. Every time you looked you saw the individuals and you couldn't really follow what the teams were doing.

But I saw that two of our main guys that was on leaderboard yesterday, they kept on laying well today. So I think Charl was 3-under and Hennie was maybe 1-under. Heading the right direction obviously with one day today.

Obviously tomorrow an important day with three scores to couldn't so that mixes things up a little bit.

Q. Since you've been on the course, it's been announced Bryson is going to join next month. We knew it was coming, but it obviously sends signals.

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, I think that's huge. Obviously you have your guys that can really bring some crowds out. And obviously Sergio and Louis and those type of guys, and obviously we were really fortunate that Dustin came out; that really gave the whole thing a big boost.

And obviously with Bryson we always knew that he wanted to come out. I just think it was a matter of time. He's one of the top 10 guys that pulls the most crowds and obviously we know what it brings to a golf tournament and it's going to be fun having him around.

Q. The bigger the names get, do you see the PGA TOUR at one stage saying --

BRANDEN GRACE: You would think so but to be quite honest I don't really care what they do. We kind of knew from the start they said they were going to ban the guys, and they kind of stuck to their guns a little bit. I resigned my membership.

So for me, this is the decision that I made and you know, I've had a hell of a week out here. It's been fun. I think all of you guys would agree with us, the golf has been good. The golf course is great. The fans have come out and supported and it's a great, new, fun format and exciting times.

Q. You probably predicted what Jay Monahan's statement would be yesterday but when you came off the course yesterday, you had not had time to talk to anybody about it and you've now had 24 hours. Have you spoken to lawyers or advisors? Is there any legal recourse for you guys?

BRANDEN GRACE: You know, I think everybody is in a different situation. I'm sure there are some guys that is going to fight it.

One of the main things, although I wasn't close to being in The Presidents Cup at the moment, the golf is coming around. I don't think it's fair how they can say, you can't be eligible to be picked for a team when that team gets picked on World Ranking-wise, that's the only thing that they get picked on it World Ranking criteria.

So I can't see how they can put it in. I know it's the PGA TOUR's event, but then they should change the whole thing.

Q. Have you spoken to Trevor Immelman about that? Obviously the likes of yourself, Louis?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, a hundred percent. I haven't personally but I presume Louis has and I know Matt Jones has.

He said, listen, it's not looking good but he's going to fight it. At the end of the day he wants the best team playing for him and trying to beat the Americans. I think he's going to fight for it to get the best team out there.

Q. We realize it's only one of event, but did that at all give you any pause about giving up your membership or even getting involved in this because obviously that's the danger that you might have to miss something like that?

BRANDEN GRACE: Listen, it was a great opportunity. You know, for where I am in World Ranking, yes, I did win last year. I had exemption for next year, for this year and next year, but it's an opportunity I felt that I couldn't let slip. Obviously we all know what it entitles and there's a lot of things that come with it which is the bonuses but I still get to do what I love doing and that's play golf. I still, for me, I'm an international player. I've always been an international player. When I play in the United States, I'm a foreigner playing on a foreign tour. So this for me is no different than playing anywhere else, whether I play in Japan, whether I play in Asia, even the DP World, I'm still a foreigner playing on a foreign tour. So for me I just get to love what I'm doing.

Q. Did you receive any assurance from sponsors that they would stick with you? What were those conversations like?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, you know, obviously, I don't have too many. Callaway said they will see, they are sticking with the guys now and see how it plays out. Audemars Piguet, they have been great and they are sticking with our guys.

And Qualtrics is the same. He's one of my main sponsors. He understands that this is what I'm doing, there's a lot of security that comes with it, and you know for myself and my family, that's one of the main things.