“He’s good enough to win an Open – he’s that good,” Els, the current Claret Jug holder, said as the 24-year-old continued to dominate an event he has led since his opening 60 at Kingsbarns on Thursday.

Even with a 65 at St Andrews Els is 12 shots adrift, but seeing another product of his Foundation blossom so spectacularly this season fills him with pride.

Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel have already won Majors, and since coming through his fifth visit to the European Tour qualifying school last December, Grace has won four times and leapt inside the world’s top 50 from outside the top 300.

“I remember winning the (2007) South African Open and he was top amateur,” said Els, who lost to him in a play-off for the Volvo Champions title in January.

“He’s always been a quality player and he’s a world contender now.”

He finds it no surprise that the Pretoria golfer is excelling this particular week.

“His game is so suited for links golf – he hits those low bullet drives and he can really putt,” Els said.

Grace did not have everything go his way in the third round. After a hat-trick of birdies he double-bogeyed the 472-yard 15th, but as he picked up another shot on the last Olesen double-bogeyed the 17th at Kingsbarns.

Swedes Fredrik Andersson and Alex Noren are in third spot, while Scot Stephen Gallacher, whose only Tour victory in nearly 400 starts came in this event eight years ago, produced a spectacular finish to be in the group on 14-under.

Gallacher sank a “totally blind” 200-yard five-iron for an eagle two at Kingsbarns’ 17th and then birdied the last for a 65.