Andy Sullivan cruises to victory at Portgual Masters

English golfer led from day one and was never threatened, winning by nine shots

Andy Sullivan poses with the Portugal Masters trophy after cruising to victory in Vilamoura. Photo: Fransisco Leong/Getty Images
Andy Sullivan poses with the Portugal Masters trophy after cruising to victory in Vilamoura. Photo: Fransisco Leong/Getty Images

England's Andy Sullivan cruised to a commanding nine-shot victory in the Portugal Masters on Sunday to become the first three-time winner on the European Tour this season.

Damien McGrane finished best of the Irish on six under,with Padraig Harrington a shot further back at five under.

After a disappointing 77 on Saturday Paul Dunne finished with a one under par 70 to finish tied-68th on three over par while Kevin Phelan 72 to end on five over.

Sullivan, who won twice in South Africa earlier this year, took a five-shot lead into the final round at Vilamoura and was never in any danger of being caught, carding a flawless closing 66 to finish 23 under par.

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The 29-year-old finished in style with a birdie on the last before being sprayed with champagne by his parents on the 18th green.

Compatriot Chris Wood was a distant second on 14 under after a final round of 68, with Anthony Wall, Trevor Fisher and Eduardo de la Riva another shot back in third.

Spain's Jorge Campillo was joint second with two holes to play, only to drive into the water on the 17th and 18th to drop three shots and fall back into a tie for sixth place.

Sullivan opened with three pars before holing from 25 feet for a birdie on the fourth and two-putting for another on the par-five fifth to reach 20 under par.

De la Riva briefly closed to within six shots when he recovered from a bogey on the third with birdies on the fifth and seventh, only to drop a shot on the ninth after finding heavy rough off the tee.

Sullivan was furious with himself for three-putting the 12th for par after finding the green in two, with Campillo holing from 15 feet for eagle and Wood making birdie to get within six shots of the lead.

But the former Walker Cup made certain of victory with a birdie on the 14th and picked up further shots on the 17th and 18th to put the seal on a brilliant wire-to-wire success.