August 06-09
Hanbury Manor, Ware, Hertfordshire, England
€1,000,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

An emotional Andy Sullivan ended a near five-year wait for his fourth European Tour title as he recorded a seven-shot victory at the English Championship in Ware.

Heading into the final day at Hanbury Manor with a five-shot advantage, the 34-year-old saw his lead cut to just two by Spaniard Adrian Otaegui.

But while his challenger faltered over the closing stages, Sullivan recorded four birdies on the back nine to finish on 27 under par.

The victory was his first on the European Tour since the 2015 Portugal Masters and his first since the birth of his son and the deaths of both his brother-in-law as well as a close friend.

Tears flowed as he was greeted by his family via a laptop that was set up off the 18th green after he finished the round.

Asked at the winner's press conference about his emotional reaction, he said: "I think it was just the people that have missed it for me.

"My brother-in-law was only 24 and got taken from us, so it's quite emotional for him not to witness it. A good friend of mine has passed as well. It means a lot to do that for them.

"It's just nice for my family, to win for my little boy who's only two-years-old. It's just nice for him to see daddy being successful. He hasn't quite seen that.

"Also for me, I can't remember too much about my emotions in the first three wins but I was fighting the tears back on those last three holes. I was really just proud of myself for what I've achieved this week."

Sullivan made a fine start with an eagle on the second but a bogey on the fourth coupled with five birdies for Otaegui saw the Spaniard move within three at the turn.

Otaegui holed from just off the green on the 12th to cut the lead to two shots but Sullivan responded with a gain at the same hole before he birdied the 14th and 15th to take charge.

His challenger faded and dropped a shot on the 17th and Sullivan finished with a flourish to birdie the last.

Rasmus Hojgaard ended on 19 under after a flawless 64 as the 19-year-old Dane recorded a third successive top six finish on the UK Swing.