Andy Sullivan coasts to Portuguese win

• Andy Sullivan becomes first player this season to reach three wins
• Coasts to a nine-shot, wire-to-wire victory at the Portugal Masters
• Chris Wood finishes runner-up for his third top ten in a row

Andy Sullivan became the first player to record three European Tour wins in the 2015 season after coasting to a wire-to-wire victory at the Portugal Masters.

The Englishman, who won the South African Open Championship back in January and the Joburg Open seven weeks later, reached 23-under-par at Vilamoura to finish a massive nine shots clear of Chris Wood in second place.

The win has lifted Sullivan up to a career-high 47th in the world rankings and he’s now the fifth highest-ranked Englishman, behind Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Danny Willett and Lee Westwood.

“To show your peers that you can do it in Europe as well is unbelievable” – Andy Sullivan

“Those two wins in South Africa were unbelievable,” said Andy Sullivan. “But to show your peers that you can do it in Europe as well is unbelievable and to do it in front of so many people from my home golf club. My mum and dad are here and it’s been incredible.”

Carrying a five-shot lead into the final round over Eduardo de la Riva, Sullivan started solidly with three pars before the Spaniard’s dropped shot at the third and his birdies at the fourth and fifth put him in total control.

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“I was a little bit edgy and I think that putt on four really settled me down and from there onwards I just felt really comfortable all the way round,” said Sullivan, who carded a bogey-free 66 in the final round.

“I didn’t really feel like I took that many risks until the end there and I just thought I’d play within myself and let them try and catch me.”

Sullivan’s nearest rival Wood continued his fine form with his third top ten in as many starts, while it was a good week for Scots Craig Lee, tied sixth and who now looks to have secured his European Tour card, Stephen Gallacher, tied ninth, and David Drysdale, T16.

Andy Sullivan :: Ryder Cup beckoning?

After his third win in nine months, do you think Andy Sullivan could be representing Team Europe at the Ryder Cup next year? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.