Monday 28 December 2015

Golf:12 British players who won on European Tour or PGA Tour in 2015

We look back at the 12 Brits to have reached the winner's circle on either the European Tour or PGA Tour during 2015.
Andy Sullivan was a three-time winner in 2015
Andy Sullivan
Sullivan narrowly missed out on claiming the big-money win at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, but still had the year of his career to date by winning his first three professional titles.
Having taken advantage of Charl Schwartzel's final-round collapse at the opening event of the year to prevail in a play-off, Sullivan claimed a second South African success a few weeks later at the Joburg Open.
The best of the bunch though came at the Portugal Open, where Sullivan blitzed through the field to cruise to a nine-shot victory - the biggest win of the year on the European Tour.
Rory McIlroy
Despite missing nearly two months of the season through injury after rupturing ankle ligaments while playing football with friends, McIlroy was still able to match the number of victories of his double major-winning 2014.
Rory McIlroy finished the season with victory in Dubai
Rory McIlroy finished the season with victory in Dubai
An early season win at the Dubai Desert Classic, venue of his first professional title six years earlier, was followed by victories at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play and Wells Fargo Championship in May to extend the Northern Irishman's advantage as world No 1.
Although McIlroy initially struggled to return to his best after a lengthy lay-off, he was still able to retain his position as European No 1 by winning the season finale in Dubai for a second time in three seasons.
Richie Ramsay
The Scot went to the Trophee Hassan without a pay cheque to his name in 2015 after four missed cuts and a withdrawal from his first five starts, but finished the week on top of the leaderboard.
Ramsay ended a three-year winless run by claiming his fifth professional title in Morocco, although he had to do it in tricky circumstances after overcoming a mid-round stutter.
He raced ahead with four birdies in a row during his final round before dropping four strokes over his next two, only to recover and claim a one-shot win.
Justin Rose
Justin Rose managed victory on both tours during 2015
Justin Rose managed victory on both tours during 2015
For the second year running, Rose was able to juggle his worldwide playing commitments to win on both sides of the Atlantic during another successful season.
A second major win to follow his 2013 US Open victory may have evaded the Englishman, but Rose followed a tied-second finish at the Masters with a one-shot victory over Cameron Tringale at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Rose had looked like he would end the European Tour season without a win for the first time in four years heading into the regular season-ending Hong Kong Open, but was able to battle past Lucas Bjerregaard during the final round to take the title.
James Morrison
Morrison came out on top in Barcelona
Morrison came out on top in Barcelona
The 30-year-old will head into the New Year inside the world's top 100, mainly having a four-shot victory at the Open de Espana to thank for his rapid rise up the rankings.
Morrison came into the event out of touch having missed the cut in five of his past seven starts, but finished with a bogey-free final round to steer comfortably clear of nearest challenger Miguel Angel Jimenez. 
Chris Wood
Wood appears set to have secured a Masters invite next April after moving inside the world's top 50, with the pick of his nine top-10 finishes during 2015 coming at the Lyoness Open.
As long-time leader Gregory Bourdy saw his four-shot midway lead eaten into by Rafa Cabrera-Bello during the third round, Wood went on to produce one of the best performances of his injury-hit career to earn a two-shot victory. 
Danny Willett
Danny Willett claimed his third career victory at the Omega European Masters
Danny Willett claimed his third career victory at the Omega European Masters
Having finished 2014 on a high by taking the Nedbank Golf Challenge title, Willett added a second title of the season by coming out on top in an all-Sheffield showdown with Matt Fitzpatrick at the European Masters.
The pair held a share of the lead heading into the final round in Switzerland, but after a topsy-turvy Sunday, it was the elder of the Yorkshiremen that claimed his third career title.
A one-shot win lifted Willett to a new career-high 24th in the world, with the 28-year-old's runner-up finish in the Race to Dubai seeing him break into the top 20.
David Horsey
Horsey's European Tour future was looking in question with the Englishman lurking outside of the top 110 in the Race to Dubai standings with just a few tournaments remaining, only to comfortably secure his safety by winning the Made In Denmark.
David Horsey was an unlikely winner at the Russian Open
David Horsey was an unlikely winner at the Russian Open
A record-equalling front-nine 28 during the opening round gave Horsey the opportunity of joining the '59 Club', although a 63 was enough for him to push him top of the leaderboard - a position he'd hold throughout the week.
Even though the 30-year-old stuttered to a two-over 73 on the final day, it was still enough for Horsey to end two ahead of a four-way tie for second and earn him a fourth European Tour title.
Lee Slattery
The Russian Open won't live long in the memory of many golf fans due to an unusually weak field and barely any spectators, but that takes nothing away from how Slattery battled to his first European Tour win in four years.
Slattery had lost his overnight advantage during the final round as a bunched leaderboard became ever tighter, but he chipped in to birdie the penultimate hole and claim a narrow one-stroke victory.
The European Tour's player of the month followed as a result, with Slattery now likely to be the defending champion for the foreseeable future as the tournament has no place on the 2016 schedule.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The rookie had a memorable maiden season on the European Tour with more top-10s than any other player, although the 21-year-old's year is likely to be remembered for his impressive victory at the British Masters.
Matt Fitzpatrick claimed his first professional win at Woburn
Matt Fitzpatrick claimed his first professional win at Woburn
Fitzpatrick held the early advantage after an opening-round 64 at Woburn and held on to top spot all week on his way to a wire-to-wire win, showing maturity beyond his years to hold off the challenge of Shane Lowry and the chasing pack along the closing stretch.
Victory made Fitzpatrick the youngest winner on the European Tour in 2015 and parachuted him inside the world's top 60. It's unlikely to be the last silverware we see him winning - expect trophies in the years ahead.
Russell Knox
The Scot opened the door for European Tour membership and the possibility of featuring in Darren Clarke's Ryder Cup side with a winning WGC debut in Shanghai.
Knox hadn't even been scheduled to feature in the Final Series event and was down as seventh reserve for the tournament, but JB Holmes' withdrawal gave the 30-year-old a late entry that he'd take full advantage of.
An early-morning birdie on Sunday meant Knox held a share of the lead heading into the final round, where a four-under 68 proved enough to claim a two-shot win.
Graeme McDowell
The Northern Irishman fell to his lowest world ranking in eight years after going 24 worldwide starts without a top-10 finish, leading to him deciding to miss the European Tour's season-ending Final Series in favour of featuring on the PGA Tour.
Graeme McDowell says his win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba meant everything to him after suffering a difficult year in the game
Graeme McDowell says his win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba meant everything to him after suffering a difficult year in the game
The decision was so McDowell could pick up some much-needed ranking points as he pushed for a place back inside the world's top 50, which he moved back towards with victory at the OHL Classic.
After ending the rain-delayed final round tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Knox and American Jason Bohn, McDowell birdied the first play-off hole to claim his first victory since the 2014 Open de France.
                                                                                                                 Source:Sky.com

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