Andy Sullivan strolls to victory at Portugal Masters

Andy Sullivan began the final round of the Portugal Masters with a five-shot lead and ran out a winner by an incredible nine strokes to become the first player to win three times this season.

He led after every round and dropped just three shots all week and went bogey-free on Sunday, closing with a pair of birdies for a 66.

Fellow Englishman Chris Wood was a distant second on -14.

Sullivan’s previous wins had both come in Johannesburg and this was his first in Europe and he now moves into the world’s top 50.

The winning total of -23 blew away Alexander Levy’s record winning total of -18 last year.

And it continues a fine run by English players in the event following Steve Webster (2007), Lee Westwood (2009), Tom Lewis (2011) and David Lynn (2013).

"I didn't really feel like I took that many risks until the end there and I just thought I'd play within myself and let them try and catch me,” Sullivan said.

"I'm not going to make any mistakes, and I didn't. Bogey free is unbelievable.

"It's massive (to win in Europe). It's been a big goal of mine. Those two wins in South Africa were unbelievable but to show your peers you can do it in Europe as well is great.

"To do it in front of so many people from my golf club and with my mum and dad here, it's been incredible."