Five players to watch on the European Tour in 2015

Ahead of this week's South African Open, the Sky Sports Golf team focus on five players set to make a big impression on the European Tour in 2015.

Tommy Fleetwood

“My best season so far” was how Fleetwood summed up his 2014 campaign after finishing a career-best 19th in the Race to Dubai standings. 

Seven top-10 finishes saw Fleetwood surge up the world rankings, ending the year agonisingly short of an automatic Masters invitation as the world No 51.

The Southport star, who turns 24 later this month, impressed with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the ISPS Handa Wales Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, while he also came up just short earlier in the season at the Volvo China Open.

Despite registering his lowest stroke average as a professional, it was Fleetwood’s middle rounds that prevented him from being in contention for more silverware, as he was over par in half the tournaments he featured in during days two and three.

He will also look to avoid a repeat of what he admits was a “dodgy” summer, where he missed the cut in six of his eight starts.

However, if Fleetwood can take his end-of-year form into the new season, then a second European Tour title during 2015 is a genuine possibility. 

Rob Lee's verdict: "Tommy has certainly got a bit of star quality about him and had a good season. What’s next for him? Certainly to win again, but the big step is become a top 10 player."

Tommy Fleetwood is 6/1 with Sky Bet to make Europe's 2016 Ryder Cup team

Andy Sullivan

Sullivan’s career quite literally ‘took off’ in 2014, as he registered his highest-ever finish in a European Tour event and hit a shot which earned him a trip to space.

A runners-up spot at the Trophee Hassan II was one of five top-10 finishes for the 28-year-old, but his year will always be remembered for his hole-in-one at the KLM Open which saw him win the unusual sponsor's prize of a trip to space.

The Nuneaton pro was also in contention for honours at the Maybank Malaysian Open before a nightmare six-over 78 on the final day left him well adrift of winner Lee Westwood.

Malaysia wasn’t the only final-day disappointment for the world No 149, with poor closing rounds proving costly at the BMW Masters and the D+D REAL Czech Masters, although he still managed to break the £1m earnings mark for the first time.

Although he’s entering his fifth season as a professional, Sullivan admits to only now “finding his feet” on the European Tour, and he is widely expected to claim his maiden victory sooner rather than later. 

Rob Lee: "Andy has been quietly bubbling under the radar very impressively. He has shown consistency over four rounds, but he has the capability to shoot that one low score he needs to win his first tournament."

Andy Sullivan is 28/1 with Sky Bet to win the South African Open

Shane Lowry

The popular Irishman had his best year to date, with seven top-10 finishes earning him a career-high 10th place finish in the Race to Dubai standings.

After a sluggish start to 2014 saw the 27-year-old make the cut in just two of his first nine tournaments, Lowry got his season up and running with an impressive second-place finish at the BMW PGA Championship – where he was just one shot adrift of Rory McIlroy.

Aside from disappointment at the US Open and his native Irish Open, Lowry’s performance at Wentworth sparked a run of what he referred to as “good golf” that lifted him into the world’s top 50.

A fifth-place finish at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai cemented his place in the world’s elite, as well as securing his Masters debut this April.

Lowry admits failing to add to his two European Tour titles was the "one thing he didn’t do" over the past 12 months, so securing his first trophy since the Portugal Masters three years ago will be a target in 2015. 

Rob Lee: “Shane is a very natural player, and a great ball-striker who I enjoy watching. I think he’s on the right path and the wins will come for him – he just needs more of the same.”

Shane Lowry is odds-on with Sky Bet to win on the European Tour this season

Lucas Bjerregaard

The talented young Dane enjoyed a strong finish to his first full year on the European Tour, almost winning his maiden title at last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Bjerregaard was just one shot off the lead going into the final day in South Africa before closing with a nightmare final-round 89 – taking 50 blows for the back-nine as Branden Grace cruised to victory.

The 23-year-old had made a steady start to his rookie season and qualified for the US Open, but a disappointing summer saw Bjerregaard hit a rut of failing to make the cut in six of eight tournaments and left him struggling to retain his card.

However, the Frederikshavn pro bounced back to end the season with top-five finishes at the Hong Kong Open and the ISPS HANDA Perth International, which secured his playing privileges for 2015.

With high expectations now pinned on the Dane, Bjerregaard will look to take his end-of-year consistency in to 2015.

Rob Lee: “Lucas had a torrid finish at Leopard Creek, by my advice to him is just to write off the back nine as one of life’s freaky days and to keep playing the way he’s playing, as he has got it all.”

Alvaro Quiros

The mammoth-hitting Spaniard occasionally put in the kind of performances that has already seen him win six European Tour titles, but his 2014 season was hampered by health issues.

A third place at the Volvo China Open was the highlight in another injury-plagued season in which the 31-year-old also posted top-10 finishes at the Joburg Open and the Nordea Masters.

Quiros failed to make the cut in six of his last nine tournaments, and he has not featured on the European Tour since finishing tied 80th at October’s Portugal Masters after being forced to undergo sinus surgery.

Once a prominent name in the world’s top 50, Quiros now sits 249th in the world rankings after nearly four years without a title, but the operation to cure a breathing problem could turn his fortunes around in 2015. 

Rob Lee: "Alvaro has had his injury problems but is monumental off the tee, so if he’s fighting fit both mentally and physically there’s no reason he can’t have a good year."

Alvaro Quiros is 11/4 with Sky Bet to win on the European Tour in 2015

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