Record-breaker Grace comes back down to earth

SOUTHPORT, England, July 23 (Reuters) - South Africa's Branden Grace failed to repeat his spectacular third-round performance in the British Open on Sunday but was happy enough to finish tied for sixth.

The world number 35, who on Saturday became the first man to shoot 62 in a major championship, had to settle for a level-par 70 in the final round.

"I'm stoked, it's the best finish I've had at an Open Championship," he told reporters.

"So for me there's a lot of positives to take from this week. If you told me after making the cut, you're going to finish tied sixth I would have taken it."

Grace, 29, is still trying to take in the enormity of his achievement in becoming the first man to break 63 in the 442 majors since 1860.

"Yesterday was such a roller coaster," he said. "I've been trying to put the phone down as much as I can but it's been pretty much impossible. Now when I get on the plane tomorrow night or on Tuesday I'll have some time to read up a little bit more on the history and that type of stuff."

Grace started the final round seven shots behind leader Jordan Spieth and knew it would be very difficult to win the tournament from that position.

"Those guys are playing some great golf," he said. "And they were never going to buckle under the pressure coming in. Today was just a bonus day really." (Editing by Clare Fallon)