Who won what and where: Sullivan romps home in Portugal

European Tour: Portugal Masters – Andy Sullivan

The Englishman began the day with a five-shot lead and ran out a winner by an incredible nine strokes, to become the first player to win three times this season.

He led after every round and dropped just three shots all week and went bogey-free on Sunday, closing with a pair of birdies for a 66. Chris Wood was a distant second on -14.

Sullivan’s previous wins had both come in Johannesburg and this was his first in Europe and he now moves into the world’s top 50.

The winning total of -23 blew away Alexander Levy’s record winning total of -18 last year.

And it continues a fine run by English players in the event following Steve Webster (2007), Lee Westwood (2009), Tom Lewis (2011) and David Lynn (2013).

 

What Sullivan said: “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. I’m not going to make any mistakes, and I didn’t. Bogey free is unbelievable.

“It’s massive (to win in Europe). It’s been a big goal of mine. Those two wins in South Africa were unbelievable but to show your peers you can do it in Europe as well is great. To do it in front of so many people from my golf club and with my mum and dad here, it’s been incredible.”



PGA Tour: Frys.com Open – Emiliano Grillo

The Argentinian won his first title after making a birdie at the second play-off hole with Kevin Na.

Na had hit half a dozen drivers off the fairway in the week but saved his worst for last, smothering his approach to the 18th while Grillo made a birdie from 10 feet. He could have won it at the first extra hole but missed a four-footer but made no mistake at the next.

Grillo, who holed from 24 feet at the 72nd hole, earned his card just a fortnight ago by winning the Web.com Tour Championship.

Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for 26th, ending with a round of 69, while Justin Rose’s challenge faded with three bogeys on the back nine. The Englishman tied for sixth.

Overnight leader Brendan Steele, who led after the first three rounds, fell apart with five bogeys in the last six holes for a 76.

 

What he said: “When I got the (tour) card, after the Web.com Championship, I saw I was 71, 72 in the world, so I said to my team, ‘We’ve got a chance to get in the top 50 by the end of the year, let’s try to get it done and maybe we can play the tournaments we always wanted’.”

“They said the word ’Masters’ twice today. You see this (smile)? That is what I’m going to do ever single time you say ’Masters.’ It’s unbelievable.”

 

LPGA Tour: Hana Bank Championship – Lexi Thompson

The Solheim Cup taught us many things, one of which being that Lexi Thompson is capable of beating anyone on her day. In Korea she shot a closing 69 for her second win of 2015 and sixth in her career.

Thompson beat Sung Hyun Park and Yani Tseng who came up just short of her first win in three years.

But the big talking point was Amy Yang’s back nine which was made up of a staggering nine straight birdies, tying the course record and was a first in the history of the LPGA Tour.

Lydia Ko could have moved back to the World No 1 spot with a win or runner-up finish but she could only tie for 4th.

 

What Yang said: “I don’t know what just happened. Just can’t believe, first time. I think six in a row was my best. That’s the first time. Shots were great. Early in the week I was shaky, but I don’t know, this back nine was crazy good, plus putting.”