Andy Sullivan hopes to mark the 10th anniversary of the Portugal Masters with a successful title defence. “It will be nice to go back to Portugal to try put up a stellar defence and regain the title especially with 70 members of my golf club coming out,” he said. Sullivan’s winning total of 261 was the lowest in the history of the Portugal Masters. The Nuneaton native came into the final round with a five-shot lead, and a closing 66 extended that to nine strokes as he finished the week on 23 under par to secure the third European Tour title of his career in emphatic fashion. “I couldn’t have dreamed that I would have won by as many as I did and so it was an incredible feeling.” Sullivan also speaks fondly of Oceânico Victoria. “It’s a fantastic location. The Tivoli Hotel on site is absolutely beautiful and with the marina around the corner it’s a real hot spot for people to go on holiday and enjoy the golf course as well,” he said. Reflecting on his 2015 triumph he also reveals a confidence of doing well again this year. “I had a game plan to make the lead as big as possible, play as aggressive as I had all week and it worked for me. I think the guy who plays the best golf during the week generally wins there. Sometimes you don’t always get that on some courses but the Oceânico Victoria seems to provide that.” With Sullivan in such a positive mind-set the battle for supremacy in 2016 is guaranteed to be as competitive as ever.
Caption: Sullivan celebrates victory in 2015 with family and friends