Andy Sullivan Rockets His Way Towards Fourth Tour Victory This Season.

England’s Andy Sullivan is the only player on the European Tour to have won three times this season and now he’s on track for a fourth at the halfway stage of the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates after a second successive six under par 66 around the Earth course took him to 12 under par for the tournament.

The 28 year old gained worldwide attention a year ago when a hole-in-one in the KLM Open won him a trip into outer space.

And now after victory in Portugal and twice in South Africa earlier this season, sank a long putt from the fringe for birdie on the 18th to edge one stroke ahead of Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo. World Number Three Rory McIlroy continues to stalk a third Race to Dubai crown four shots adrift of the leader in a tie for fourth. 

Roared on by his own personal “Sully Army” – featuring family and members of his home golf club in Nuneaton in England – Sullivan produced another superb display with a blemish-free 66 that put the joint overnight leader at the front of a stellar 60-man field.

Andy Sullivan (ENG) makes a birdie on the 18th during Round 2 of the DP World Tour Championship at the Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, UAE, 20/11/2015. Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Thos Caffrey)

Andy Sullivan (ENG) makes a birdie on the 18th during Round 2 of the DP World Tour Championship at the Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, UAE, 20/11/2015.
Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey
All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Thos Caffrey)

 “It’s absolutely awesome to be leading at halfway in such a massive event – it’s incredible,” said 28 year-old Sullivan, who has gone from stacking shelves in a supermarket to lifting titles on The European Tour. “This is my dream and something I’ve always wanted to do. If I can’t enjoy this, what can I enjoy? If I can’t enjoy it, I’d best go and do something else or go back to stacking shelves.”

Just one shot adrift of Sullivan, Grillo produced the round of the day with eight birdies in a round of eight under par 64 that propelled him into second place, two shots ahead of American Patrick Reed who recorded a seven under par 65 to move to nine under par in third.

“Last year I didn’t feel comfortable on the golf course but something changed,” said Grillo. “I’m hitting the ball very nicely and hopefully I can keep it going for the next few days. It’s pretty much like a Major here – you’ve got the best players in the world and you’ve got to play really well to keep it up.”

Reed, who has finished in the top seven in his last three European Tour events, is focused on becoming the first American winner of the DP World Tour Championship.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to come over and play well,” said the 25 year-old Texan after rolling in nine birdies in an assured display. “I feel very comfortable with how I’ve been playing – out of the seven weeks we’ve played, I’ve finished inside the top ten five times although I haven’t closed one out. I’d love to cap off the year with a win – that would be nice.

“Today I felt like it was a solid day. Yesterday I didn’t feel like I made a lot of putts of length and I felt like my speed was a little better today, made a couple more putts. I still left two short ones out there but beside that it was a real solid day.”

Of the seven players still in with a chance of The Race to Dubai title, Grillo’s playing partner McIlroy remains the best-placed to end the year as European Number One – a second successive four under par 68 sees him tied for fourth with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa on eight under par 136.

“I’m probably somewhere between third and fourth gear I guess,” said McIlroy. “I’m not quite performing at the levels I’d like to but I’m hitting it well. All facets of my game are pretty much there. It’s just a matter of being a little more efficient, taking advantage of the par fives a bit better. The good thing is I’m giving myself plenty of chances and I’ve only made a couple of mistakes over 36 holes. If I can keep giving myself chances over the next 36, I should be right there.”

Several of McIlroy’s Race to Dubai title rivals remain in the hunt with former European Number One Justin Rose and South Africa’s Branden Grace both one shot behind the Ulsterman on seven under par. England’s Danny Willett, the closest challenger to McIlroy in The Race to Dubai, had to settle for a two under par 70 and is now two shots behind McIlroy in a tie for 13th on six under par.

“Six under isn’t too bad,” said Willett. “I’m a couple behind Rory and obviously there are still two more days left. I think with nine holes to go on Sunday, hopefully I’ll be close. It’s never time to hit the panic button…”



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