Andy Sullivan admits 2015 tough to top ahead of SA Open title defence

Andy Sullivan returns to the venue of his maiden European Tour victory at this week's SA Open, admitting it will be tough to replicate his breakthrough 2015.

The 29-year-old surged in to the world's top 50 and secured a debut at this year's Masters with three victories, following a shock victory in this event with further wins at the Joburg Open and the Portugal Masters during a memorable season. 

Sullivan was seven shots off the pace heading in to the final round at Glendower CC last year before a final-round 67 and a late collapse from runaway leader Charl Schwartzel forced an unlikely play-off, which the Englishman won with a stunning approach at the first extra hole.  

Impressive displays in the Final Series and narrowly missing out on DP World Tour Championship victory to Rory McIlroy leaves Sullivan heading in to 2016 fourth in the Ryder Cup qualifying points list, but the Nuneaton-born player has set himself new targets for the year ahead. 

"Last year was unbelievable," Sullivan told the European Tour. "I'm not going to stand here and say that I'm going to try and win four tournaments this year because I know how hard it was to win three.

"My goals are to improve as a player and I know if I can improve as a player and manage myself better, I'm going to give myself the best chance to achieve as much as I can in this game. I learned that a lot last year with my wins."

"I know that golf is not a perfect game and I wasn't scared to go out there and play badly, I knew I could still get it round in a number and I think that is what the best guys do. I think I learned that last year and it has put me in great stead for this year."

Sullivan has been grouped with 2011 champion Hennie Otto and amateur Daniel Young for the opening two rounds, as top seed Branden Grace features alongside compatriot Jaco Van Zyl and Germany's Marcel Siem.

Grace is up to a career high of world No 14 after two-top 10 finishes in majors and two European Tour victories in 2015, but the South African returns from a lengthy break with his sights set on further success.

"I had a very big and a very busy end to the 2015 season," Grace told a pre-tournament press conference. "It's a lot of concentration and things like that but I had a big break which was needed.

"The game is still a little bit rusty, but hopefully I can get around it. Any event back home is a good one to win and get off to the right start; you never know how the year can go forward.

"The bigger picture is definitely trying to be in contention in the Majors again, try to give you that push. I was a lot closer than people think (in 2015)."

Five-time SA Open champion Ernie Els juggles playing commitments with his role as tournament this week, looking to see a home winner in an event that has been dominated by European players in recent seasons.

"We've prided ourselves on winning our national open for so many years," Els said. "Over the last few year the foreigners have kind of come in and taken our cup and Charl (Schwartzel) came so close last year, with Andy (Sullivan) hitting that unbelievable shot out of the trees.

"Then Mr (Morten Orum) Madsen that won the tournament a couple years before that, Richie Ramsay, a lot of the foreigners have started taking over here and I know the guys want to claim the cup, so to speak, and we've got a lot of the guys here."

Watch the South African Open live throughout the week on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Coverage begins on Thursday from 8am.