Andy Sullivan's impressive nine stroke victory over fellow Englishman Chris Wood at the Portugal Masters secured his third European Tour title of the season and moved him into the top 15 of The Race to Dubai, giving him a great chance of receiving a share of The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool, which will be distributed after the season-ending DP World Tour Championship taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November.
Sullivan's career ascent this season has been truly meteoric and he confirmed his reputation as one of The European Tour’s rising stars with a sensational victory that sets him up perfectly for the all-important closing stretch of the season.
The 29 year old became the first player since South African Branden Grace to win his first three European Tour titles in the same season after firing four rounds in the 60s to record the lowest score in Portugal Masters history with a 23 under par total of 261. The emphatic victory saw him claim 333,330 Race to Dubai points to take his season total to 1,237,902 and move into the Bonus Pool places in The Race to Dubai ahead of the big money Final Series, which culminates in the season-ending event in Dubai.
As well as competing for a whopping prize fund of US$8 million at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the top 15 players in The Race to Dubai following the conclusion of the tournament will be eligible from a share of an additional US$5 million while any of those top finishers who compete in three of the four Final Series events will also receive a slice of an additional bonus of US$1,365,500.
“This sets me up for the Final Series and a final push in The Race to Dubai,” said Sullivan who also moves to 47thin Official World Golf Ranking and will be eligible for all four Final Series events. “I’ll take next week off and then I’ll be back at it for the final four events. I’m looking forward to it even more now and going in with a lot of confidence. It’ll be interesting.”
Sullivan made his debut in the Dubai showcase last year and finished in a share of 21stplace but if he can reproduce the ‘out of this world’ form he showed at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club he will be a tough man to beat. General admission to the season ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates is free of charge and can be obtained by registering online atwww.DPWorldTourChampionship.com. Those who register will also be placed into a prize draw for the chance to win a VIP Hospitality package for the Championship Chalet.
