Sullivan out for South African triple

Andy Sullivan - CROPPED

In-form Englishman Andy Sullivan is out to make more history at this week's Africa Open on the European Tour.

Sullivan has surged to 58th in golf's world rankings after a whirlwind six months.

First, the 28-year-old hit the headlines in September when he won a trip to space after producing a hole-in-one at the KLM Open.

He then posted his first European Tour triumph at the South African Open in January and more success followed last week as he edged a group of five players to win the Joburg Open by two shots.

Two titles on South African soil mean Sullivan is the form player on Tour heading into this week's event at the East London Golf Club.

"I am on the crest of a wave at the moment," Sullivan said after his most recent triumph.

"I don't want it to end. I just want it to keep going."

To win again, Sullivan will have to buck the trend of South Africans winning the tournament.

No foreigner has won the Africa Open, which was first played in 2008 and won European Tour status from 2010.

Louis Oosthuizen is a two-time winner while Charl Schwartzel (2010) has also enjoyed success.

And local Thomas Aiken saw off the challenge of Englishman Oliver Fisher in a play-off last year.

George Coetzee, 12th at January's Qatar Masters, is hoping to add his name to the list of South Africans to have won the tournament.

"The Africa Open always attracts a strong contingent of local and international players," he told the European Tour's website.

"The crowds are always fantastic, because they are lively but very neutral.

"They just want to watch some great golf and they cheer for everyone. It's fun to play in front of galleries like that.

"Personally, I would very much like to put my name below Thomas' on the trophy before the international players have their day."

Coetzee won the Joburg Open last year.

Fisher will contest the tournament again in 2015 and he will be joined by Darren Clarke, recently appointed as Europe's new Ryder Cup captain.

Other high-profile internationals in the field include Italian Edoardo Molinari, Englishman Simon Dyson, Gregory Bourdy of France and India's Jeev Milkha Singh.

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