Andy Sullivan is proof it doesn’t pay to rest on your laurels.
The Englishman enjoyed a sensational breakthrough season in 2015, winning three tournaments and gaining automatic qualification for a place on the European Ryder Cup.
At 29, life on tour seemed to be on an upward curve. But professional sport can throw up all sorts of challenges and now after two years of sub-par performances, he is attempting to get his game back to a level where he can compete for trophies again.
While compatriots Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Matt Wallace have increased their status as world class players over the past 18 months, Sullivan has slid down the pecking order and struggled to perform on a consistent basis.
The 31-year-old has not won since the Portuguese Masters in 2015 and has dropped from a career-best 28th in the world rankings in 2016 to his current ranking of 131.
In 2015, he was eighth on the European money list and improving each week. However, just two top-10 finishes last year saw him plummet to 62nd in the rankings.
But, eight top-10s and two top-5s this season has seen him rise to 32nd in the Race to Dubai rankings and now the Nuneaton man appears to have the confidence and sharp game plan back to compete again at the top.
“It’s one of those years where I felt like I played well but I just didn’t get over the line when I got amongst it,” he said. “There are a lot of positives to take after a disappointing 2017 so onwards and upwards. Hopefully kick on from here and got a win too.
“It was nice to play well in the Rolex events. It got me inside the top 30 in the Order of Merit which is nice, it gets you in the Open for next year. You want to play in the big ones against the big boys, that’s where you want to perform.”
Sullivan’s best results in major events was 2016 when he finished in a tie for 12th at the Open Championship and in a tie for 23rd at the US Open in Oakmont. Although he missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the Open this year, he is slowly rediscovering his old magic again.
“I worked hard this year in the gym. I worked tirelessly on my golf game. It’s time to get out and play well again and prepare in the way I did,” he said.
“In 2016 I was very relaxed then. I was going in and not over practising or over complaining things. I was just going out and playing golf. I need to get back to that.
“You work your nuts off and get so technical. Sometimes it’s easier to go out, play golf and free it up. That’s when you play your best and that’s what worked for me in the past. I think 2019 holds that for me.
While some players are already back in action for the new European Tour season, Sullivan will take a break from the sport for a few weeks before returning to practice around mid-December.
He said: “It’s a long season, frustration levels gets higher than normal towards the end of the year. The game is there. I got to keep it ticking over in the winter and come over firing again hopefully.”
